TEL AVIV, February 18. /TASS/. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has confirmed that six alive hostages will be released from Gaza captivity under the agreement with Hamas on February 22.

"Understandings have been reached in the Cairo negotiations according to which six living first-stage hostages will be released on Saturday," it said, adding that "four deceased hostages will be returned to Israel" on Thursday.

"Pursuant to the agreement, four additional deceased hostages are due to be returned to Israel next week," it said.

In mid-January, Israel and Hamas reached an Egypt-, Qatar-, and US-brokered agreement to release the hostages held in Gaza and declare a ceasefire in the enclave. The three-phase deal took effect on January 19. During the initial 42-day phase, Hamas is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

According to the latest data of the Israeli side, seventy-three people, both alive and dead, are still held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.