From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 31, 2025
Hamas official: Mediators say Israel agreed to open Rafah crossing tomorrow after hostage release
The Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt is to reopen tomorrow after the fourth batch of Israeli hostages and Palestinian security prisoners are released, a Hamas official and a source with knowledge of discussions tell AFP.
“The mediators informed Hamas of Israel’s approval to open Rafah crossing tomorrow, Saturday, after the completion of the fourth batch of prisoner exchange,” the Hamas official says.
The unnamed source explains evacuations of the injured will take place at the crossing “as per the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement.”
Under the agreement, the crossing is to open after the terror group releases all female hostages, both IDF soldiers and civilians.
Two female hostages — one soldier and one civilian — were among three Israeli captives freed from Gaza by Palestinian terror groups Thursday under the hostage agreement. Five Thai nationals were also released yesterday, separate from the agreement.
The first stage in the three-phase accord provides for 33 hostages to be released in exchange for up to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Living hostages are being released first. Ten Israeli hostages have already been released under the deal — nine women and one man. Eight of the 33 are understood by Israel to be dead.
Three civilian men are slated to be released tomorrow, in exchange for 90 Palestinian security prisoners, including nine serving life sentences, under the accord.
