After four female Israeli soldiers were released by Hamas over the weekend, six more hostages were to be released this week. Some of those expected to be freed in the first phase of the ceasefire with Israel are thought to be dead.

Hamas freed four female soldiers on Saturday, in the second release in a hostage-for-prisoner swap outlined by the cease-fire deal with Israel.

Israelis celebrated on Saturday the release of four Israeli soldiers held hostages in Gaza for the past 15 months, with scenes of jubilation in Tel Aviv where crowds gathered in a public square to watch the release broadcast live on screens.