The cease-fire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas this week encourages the release of many people who have been held hostage by Hamas and its allies in Gaza since the beginning of the war more than a year ago.

About 100 prisoners, alive and dead, are believed to be held captive in Gaza, most of them captured when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 250. According to the agreement, 33 of the remaining prisoners will be released during the initial phase of the six-week ceasefire, the first release since the seven-week agreement. to war. In exchange, Israel will release more than 1,000 people who are imprisoned in Palestine.

The first exchange of prisoners will begin as early as 4pm on Sunday, according to the agreement. Here’s what we know about the system in anticipation of their release.

Who are the slaves being freed?

The 33 hostages who will be freed in the first phase include living and dead female slaves, young men and children who are not civilians, men aged 50 and over, female soldiers and sick and wounded civilians.

Israeli officials believe that at least 35 of the remaining captives in Gaza have died. According to the agreement, the dead bodies will be released after the hostages who are alive are released.

In a televised address on Saturday evening, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, said “most” of the 33 hostages freed under the deal are still alive.

How does the release work?

What is released will be shaken, according to the plan. On the first day, Hamas will release three women hostages who are still alive in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. On the seventh day, the four surviving captive women will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

From the 14th day to the fifth week of the agreement, Palestinian prisoners will be released every seven days in exchange for three male and female hostages.

The remaining prisoners who agreed to the first phase will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners within the sixth week.

Also during the sixth week, when all 33 prisoners will be released and return to Israel, Israel will release 47 prisoners who were also arrested after being released. in the 2011 agreement which led to the release of more than 1,000 Palestinians in exchange for a captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

Israeli authorities have established three reception centers to receive hostages on the Gaza border, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The reception center will be staffed by Israeli soldiers, doctors and psychiatrists, the official said.

How many Palestinian prisoners will be released?

Many Palestinians were held in Israel will be released for each prisoner in the first six-week period, including some serving life in prison.

The agreement outlines the procedures for the transfer of prisoners. According to the agreement, the release of an Israeli hostage or civilian who is 18 years of age or younger and alive requires the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners who are women or children.

An Israeli civilian aged 50 or older who is alive can be freed in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners. A surviving female Israeli soldier demands the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners. A total of 110 Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for nine Israeli men who are injured or sick.

How many hostages have already been released?

At the beginning of the war, Hamas released four hostages – two Israeli-American womenJudith Raanan, who was 59 years old at the time, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, who was 17 years old at the time, and two Israeli womenNurit Cooper, who was then 79 years old, and Yocheved Lifshitz, who was then 85 years old, cite humanitarian reasons. More than 100 hostages were released in November 2023 partial cooperation between Israel and Hamas. In the meantime, about 240 Palestinians living in Israel were killed.

In addition to those already released, eight hostages have been released in Israel’s military operations since the beginning of the war.

How many captives are left in Gaza by Americans?

Speaking on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said seven Americans are still held captive. Edan Alexander and Sagui Dekel-Chen believe it is has been alive since December, according to the American Jewish Council.

A few of the remaining five were said to have died early in the war. Their bodies remain in Gaza.

Ephrat Livni and Aaron Boxman contributed reports.