Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Hamas freed three male Israeli civilians on Saturday in the fourth exchange of hostages for Palestinians detained by Israel under the terms of the Gaza truce that began on January 19.
Ofer Calderon, 54, and Yarden Bibas, 35, were handed over to Red Cross (ICRC) officials in the southern city of Khan Younis.
Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, 65, was released from Hamas captivity near Gaza port.
Israel later released 183 Palestinians in exchange, most of whom were returned to Gaza. Thirty-two prisoners were taken by bus to Ramallah, the main Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank, while one was sent into exile through Egypt.
The hostage handovers by Hamas were carried out amid a strong deployment of fighters and with cordons to prevent crowds from causing the chaotic scenes seen during previous hostage releases. Israel delayed releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners during the third exchange on Thursday after militants were seen struggling to hold back a crush of people around hostage Yehoud Arbel.
After Saturday's hostage release, 50 child patients from Gaza were taken through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt to receive specialist medical care. They included children with cancer, as well some with serious injuries suffered during the war.
Hamas and allied militant groups in Gaza have now released 13 of the 33 Israeli hostages due to be freed over six weeks in the first stage of the three-phase ceasefire deal that halted more than 15 months of Israel's devastating military offensive in Gaza. Five Thai hostages were also released during the exchange on Thursday.
Palestinian militants took about of 250 people hostage during the raids on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that triggered the war in Gaza as the Israeli military launched a devastating offensive with the goal of eradicating Hamas. Seventy-six hostages are believed to be still in Gaza, including at least 34 the military says are dead.
Israel on Saturday demanded information from mediators who brokered the ceasefire about the fate of Mr Bibas's wife and two young sons, who were also abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz where the family lived.
"Yarden has returned home. But his wife Shiri and his children Ariel and Kfir have not. We have been searching for them for a long time, tracking their traces and investigating their fate," Gal Hirsch, Israel's hostage co-ordinator, said in a statement.
"The Bibas family... has been living in constant fear for their lives for a long time... We continue to demand information about their condition from the mediators."
Hamas has previously declared that Shiri and the children were killed in an Israeli air strike in November 2023, but Israel has not confirmed their deaths.
The ceasefire deal was brokered by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States.
Negotiations for a second phase of the deal are set to start on Monday, the 16th day of the ceasefire, according to the truce terms provided to The National by sources close to the negotiations.
The second phase is expected to cover the release of the remaining captives and to include discussions on a more permanent end to the war.
US President Donald Trump, who has claimed credit for the deal, is expected to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday.
With reporting from agencies
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Without Remorse
Directed by: Stefano Sollima
Starring: Michael B Jordan
4/5
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
