Hamas and PIJ confirm names of three hostages to be released Saturday

The announcement comes after days of tension over whether the ceasefire agreement installed last month would hold, and followed intense efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to keep the US-backed agreement on track.

Hamas previously threatened to withhold any more of the 33 hostages due for release after acusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire by blocking aid from entering Gaza, which prompted counterthreats of a resumption of fighting from Israel.

If released, Horn, 46, Dekel Chen, 36, and Troufanov, 29, will be returned to Israel as part of the sixth hostage-prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas since the latest ceasefire deal began on 19 January.

Troufanov has also been the subject of intense lobbying efforts from the Russian government, who have been negotiating with PIJ to try and secure his freedom for months.