Hamas is to release on Saturday four Israeli women held hostage in the Gaza Strip in the second prisoner swap, as stipulated in the agreement it has signed with Israel, Taher al-Nunu, a senior Palestinian official said today.

Nunu confirmed in a telephone conversation with AFP “the release (next Saturday) of four Israeli prisoners in exchange for that of Israel of the second group of Palestinian prisoners, based on the agreed terms.”

Three young Israeli women were released on Sunday in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

The details of the Israel-Hamas deal have not been officially released, but prisoner swaps are expected to take place at more or less regular intervals over six weeks. A total of 33 Israeli hostages will be released in the first phase of the deal in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

“We asked the mediators to ensure that the occupying power (Israel) announces the list of Palestinian prisoners promptly and releases them without delay,” al-Nunu added.