By Ivana Kottasová, Dana Karni, Kareem Khadder, Jeremy Diamond, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Eugenia Yosef

(CNN) — Israel is preparing to receive on Saturday four female soldiers held hostage by Hamas.

The militant group said Friday that it intends to release Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19.

Israeli officials have told the families of the four women that they intend to move forward with the release – despite the fact that Israel had previously expected Arbel Yehud, a female civilian hostage still held in Gaza, to be included in Saturday’s release.

Israel had demanded that Hamas release Yehud, a 29-year-old who was taken hostage from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, as part of the next release, a source familiar with the matter said. Yehud is believed to be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, not Hamas, which could be a factor in the timing of her release.

It was not initially clear on Friday whether Israel would accept the list provided by Hamas, given Yehud’s absence on it. After the government received the list through mediators, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a situational assessment over the phone with his defense minister and the heads of the country’s negotiation team, an official told CNN.

Later in the day, the families were notified Israel intended for the release to go ahead.

Hamas said it expected Israel to release around 200 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday. The Hamas Prisoners Media Office said in a statement on Friday that it expects “120 prisoners with life sentences and 80 prisoners with high sentences” to be released “according to what was stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.”

As part of the agreement, the Israeli government has agreed to release 50 Palestinian prisoners for every female soldier hostage released from Gaza.

As of Friday evening, Israel’s Justice Ministry was yet to say how many and which Palestinian prisoners will be released on Saturday.

A nation awaits

The four women slated for release were among seven female soldiers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz military base, where they served as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military lookouts, observing activity inside the Gaza Strip.

One of the seven, Ori Megidish, was rescued by the IDF on October 30, 2023. Another, Noa Marciano, 19, was killed in Gaza. Her body was recovered by the IDF on November 17, 2023.

The remaining five were not released as part of an earlier, short-lived ceasefire deal in 2023, despite the agreement calling for the release of all women and children held captive. The fifth female soldier who is still held in Gaza is Agam Berger. She is not included on the list for release on Saturday, but she is among the 33 hostages the Israeli government named as set for release during the first phase of the ceasefire that went into effect Sunday morning.

Several videos showing their kidnapping became symbolic of the brutality of the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023.

One piece of footage showed them lined up against a wall, their hands bound, their bodies bruised and bloodied. The video was released by the women’s families in May to put pressure on the Israeli government to secure a deal to have them freed. The IDF admitted at that time that it had failed to defend its personnel at the Nahal Oz base.

Three of the women later appeared in Hamas propaganda videos, pleading for their lives.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it welcomed the news about the expected release of the four women after 477 days in Hamas captivity, saying that “an entire nation has fought for them and anxiously awaits their longed-for return to their families’ embrace.”

The forum added that it “will not give up or stop at any stage until all hostages return home under the current agreement.”

A smile that ‘brightens the day of everyone’

The four young women slated for release on Saturday were all serving in the IDF as part of their compulsory military service when they were taken hostage by Hamas.

The youngest of the four, Albag, was just 18 years old when she was kidnapped. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described her as someone who “radiates joy, with a smile and laugh that brightens the day of everyone around her.”

According to her family and friends, Albag is a big fan of singing, photography, and cooking. They said she enjoys traveling and has a list of restaurants she wants to try in every place she visits. They said her dream was to study in Paris and become an interior designer and architect.

Ariev, Gilboa and Levy all turned 20 while in captivity.

Ariev is from Jerusalem and, according to the forum, enjoys dancing, singing, writing, cooking, and makeup. She was described by the forum as someone who “shares the love within her with her family and friends, is sensitive to everything, and always takes care of everyone.”

“She dreams of becoming a psychologist and is known for being compassionate and for bringing people together – serving as the connecting force in both her friendships and family relationships,” the forum said in a statement.

Gilboa is a “passionate musician who studies piano and singing, aspiring to pursue a professional career in music,” the forum said, adding that she is “known for her optimism and kindness.”

Levy, meanwhile, was described by her family and friends as gentle and quiet, yet full of light, joy, strength, and determination. They said Levy competed in triathlons and played tennis. She also took part in the Hands of Peace project, which brings together young Israelis, Palestinians and Americans to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

More releases to come

Three hostages have already been released as part of the first phase of the present ceasefire deal: Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were all freed on Sunday. At the same time, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement is expected to last for five more weeks. Under the terms, 30 more Israeli hostages, including the four slated for release on Saturday, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners should be freed over that time.

Hamas and its allies still hold 91 people taken from Israel on October 7, 2023. There are also three additional hostages who have been held captive since 2014 and are still in Gaza. In total, 251 people were taken from Israel on October 7, 2023.

Under the terms of the deal, Israeli troops will withdraw from some parts of Gaza and the amount of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza will be increased.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
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