Two Israeli women, Arbel Yehud and Agam Berger, are to be released on Thursday along with a third unidentified hostage, following negotiations between Hamas and Israel, AFP reports.

Their upcoming release was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday night as part of the truce agreement with Hamas.

According to Israel, Arbel Yehud, as a woman and a civilian, should have been released last Saturday in the second prisoner exchange of the ceasefire deal.

When she did not appear, the Israeli government accused Hamas of violating the agreement and in retaliation prevented tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning to the north of Gaza.

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