Hamas Set to Release Three More Israeli Hostages Amid Ceasefire Deal
#image_title

Hamas Set to Release Three More Israeli Hostages Amid Ceasefire Deal


Share this post

Hamas is expected to release three more Israeli hostages on Saturday in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

They have been named by Hamas as male civilians Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy.

So far, 18 hostages have been freed since the ceasefire began on 19 January with Israel in return releasing 383 prisoners. Hamas says another 183 are to be returned on Saturday.

Some 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are due to be freed by the end of the first stage of the ceasefire in three weeks' time. Israel says eight of the 33 are dead.

In line with the ceasefire deal, Israel is set to release the183 Palestinian prisoners – more than 70 are serving life or long sentences; others are Gazans detained during the war.

Hamas seized 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering the war.

At least 47,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. About two-thirds of Gaza's buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israel's attacks, the UN says.

Eli Sharabi, 52, was taken from Kibbutz Beeri with his brother, Yossi, whose death has since been confirmed. Eli's British-born wife, Lianne, and two daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were murdered in the attack.

Mr Sharabi's brother-in-law, Stephen Brisley, from Wales, said his safe return "has always been that one crumb of comfort".

"Eli coming home alive would be perhaps the greatest memorial to Lianne and the girls and we're so close to achieving that now," he told the BBC.

Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was also taken from Kibbutz Beeri, along with his wife, Raz. She was later released by Hamas.

Mr Ben Ami, an accountant, is "known for his good judgment and sense of humour", according to the Hostages Families Forum.

Or Levy, 34, a computer programmer from Rishon LeZion, a city south of Tel Aviv, fled the Nova festival with his wife Eynav, when gunmen attacked the event.

Mr Levy was taken hostage and Eynav's body was found in a bomb shelter where the couple had been hiding.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed authorities had received the list of abductees scheduled for release on Saturday, and their families had been informed.

Earlier on Friday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters had welcomed "news about the expected release" of the three hostages.

"We will not give up or stop at any stage until all hostages return home under the current agreement - down to the very last one - the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial," the statement said.

Hours before they released the hostage names, Hamas accused Israel of failing to abide by its commitment to boost the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal.

The head of Hamas's media office in Gaza, Salama Marouf, told a news conference in Gaza City: "The humanitarian situation remains catastrophic due to Israeli obstruction".

He said only 8,500 out of an expected 12,000 aid lorries had entered Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect, and medical equipment and shelter supplies had been deliberately delayed, according to media reports.

The allegation contradicts UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, who on Thursday said 10,000 lorries with food, medicine and tents had crossed into Gaza since the start of the ceasefire in what he called "a massive surge".

Meanwhile, Yarden Bibas, 34, an Israeli hostage who was freed on Saturday, made a direct plea to Netanyahu to bring back his wife and children, who are still in captivity.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu, I'm now addressing you with my own words... bring my family back, bring my friends back, bring everyone home," Mr Bibas said in his first public statement since his release.

Hamas claimed in November 2023 that Mr Bibas's wife, Shiri, and two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, had been killed in an Israeli air strike, without providing evidence. Israel has not confirmed the report.

Armed Hamas militants carry the coffin of senior military commanded Marwan Issa in the central Gaza Strip

In a separate development in central Gaza on Friday, hundreds of people - including armed Hamas fighters - attended a funeral held for senior Hamas military commander Marwan Issa.

Issa is seen as one of the masterminds of Hamas's 7 October attack. The Israeli military had said he was killed in an air strike last March, but his death was only confirmed by Hamas last week.

Details of Saturday's exchange were released as President Donald Trump continued to push his widely criticised proposal to move all Palestinians from Gaza and redevelop it as an international travel destination.

His announcement - for the US to "take over" the Gaza Strip, resettle its Palestinian population and turn the territory into the "Riviera of the Middle East" - has complicated talks on the planned next stage of the ceasefire.

But Israeli negotiators are still expected to meet mediators in Qatar later on Saturday.

Trump's idea was strongly condemned by Arab countries and the UN.


Share this post
Comments

Be the first to know

Join our community and get notified about upcoming stories

Subscribing...
You've been subscribed!
Something went wrong
Lionel Richie Hospitalised Again Due to Heart Issues Forcing Tour Cancellations

Lionel Richie Hospitalised Again Due to Heart Issues Forcing Tour Cancellations

Lionel Richie has been hospitalized once again to address ongoing cardiac concerns, resulting in the cancellation of several upcoming performances.  Sources familiar with the situation confirmed Tuesday that the “All Night Long” singer is currently receiving treatment for atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm.  Medical professionals are reportedly treating the 77-year-old performer with an AFib ablation. This minimally invasive procedure is


O A

Simone Biles Reveals Masked Burglars Broke Into Chicago Home and Stole Porsche

Simone Biles Reveals Masked Burglars Broke Into Chicago Home and Stole Porsche

Simone Biles has become the latest high-profile athlete targeted in a brazen home invasion in Chicago. In a TikTok video, Biles said that three masked men broke into her Chicago residence and stole her Porsche GTS. The Olympic icon detailed the shocking break-in on social media while out shopping for a replacement vehicle. “I feel like I need a new car because during our last few months in Chicago, three men in masks came to our house and stole my Porsche,” she said in the middle of a “get rea


O A

Lisa Leslie Honored with Star Plaza Statue outside Crypto.com Arena

Lisa Leslie Honored with Star Plaza Statue outside Crypto.com Arena

Lisa Leslie made history on Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena as the venue unveiled a monument honoring her. The 750-pound bronze sculpture, sculpted by Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany, captures Leslie throwing down the WNBA’s first-ever in-game dunk during her 2002 championship season. Dubbed “The First Lady,” the two-time WNBA champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist becomes the 16th sports icon—and the first female athlete—immortalized in bronze outside downtown Los Angeles’ stor


O A

Gianni Infantino's reform pledge fails to win over Dutch, German and Swedish FAs

Gianni Infantino's reform pledge fails to win over Dutch, German and Swedish FAs

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to review the governing body's decision-making processes has failed to ease concerns among several member associations, with football officials ⁠in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Wales saying the reforms do not address deeper leadership issues. In Monday's letter seen by Reuters, Infantino wrote to FIFA’s 211 member associations proposing an independent review of FIFA’s ‌decision-making processes, as well as consultations on governance reforms, f


O A