Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indefinitely delayed the release of what would have been the biggest group of Palestinian prisoners so far

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas is set to free six more Israeli hostages Saturday from the Gaza Strip, but the exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners is shadowed by heightened tension between the adversaries that clouds the future of the fragile ceasefire deal.

The hostages are the last living hostages to be freed in the first phase of a fragile deal with Israel, adding to pressure for both sides to start negotiations to permanently end the war.

Hamas is handing over five out of six hostages to be released in Gaza on Saturday, the final living captives whom the warring sides agreed would be released when a ceasefire began last month.

Hayya, leader of Hamas in Gaza, said the bodies of four hostages would be returned on Thursday. Six living hostages would follow on Saturday.

President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff will return this week to the Middle East, where he will seek an "extension" of Phase One of the ceasefire deal.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to the Middle East on Wednesday to discuss with Israel, Qatar and Egypt the possibility of extending the first phase of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to the Middle East this week, he said on Sunday, to push for the extension of a fragile Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The three-stage ceasefire which came into effect on January 19 is now nearing the end of its first phase.