GAZA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has begun on Saturday preparations to release three Israeli hostages from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, sources confirmed to Xinhua on Saturday.
This release marks the fifth exchange under the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement between Hamas and Israel.
The deal, brokered by Egypt and Qatar with support from the United States, aims to de-escalate the conflict. ■
