IDF readies to receive hostages returning from Gaza
Hamas yet to release names of hostages for first exchange • 98 Gaza hostages set for gradual return home after 15 months in Hamas captivity • Biden confirms US citizens to be released in first phase
Government approves the hostage deal after seven hours of deliberation
Netanyahu told the cabinet that President-elect Trump had given his full backing for Israel to restart the war should Hamas violate the agreement and would unfreeze arms shipments.
The Israeli government approved the hostage deal at 1 a.m. on Saturday after over seven hours of debate, Walla reported.
Twenty-four ministers voted in favor, and eight ministers voted against.
Go to the full article >>WATCH: IDF prepares for released hostages to return to Israel from Gaza captivity
The IDF urged the public to exercise patience and sensitivity and to respect the privacy of the returned hostages and their families.
The IDF has completed its preparations for receiving the returning hostages from the Gaza Strip, the military announced Saturday evening.
Go to the full article >>Who is German-Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud, the 'pure' soul set for release?
Arbel's family have spoken to the media about their fears their daughter is being sexually abused and tortured by the terrorists holding her.
German-Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud was 28 when she was abducted by terrorists from Nir Oz - where three generations of her family called home. Now, over a year later, she is expected to be released as part of a hostage-ceasefire deal.
Go to the full article >>Who is Or Levy, the hostage set to finally return to his three-year-old son?
Or Levy's wife Eynav was murdered before he was abducted to Gaza. Now, he may finally be returning from captivity to his three-year-old son Almog.
Or Levy, now 34, was attending the Nova Music Festival on October 7 with his 32-year-old wife, Eynav. The invading terrorists killed Eynav and abducted Or to Gaza, where he has been held hostage for the past year.
Go to the full article >>Who is Alexandre Sasha Troufanov, the Russian-Israeli to be released in phase one?
Alexandre Sasha Troufanov will return after spending two birthdays in Hamas captivity to the news his father was murdered on October 7.
Ukrainian-Russian-Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov was 27 when he was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and now, after spending two birthdays in captivity, is expected to be released in the upcoming hostage-ceasefire deal.
Go to the full article >>Notices to be delivered to families of victims of terrorists released in deal
Personal notices are to be delivered to families of terror attack victims, saying that the perpetrators who caused their loved ones' deaths are expected to be released as part of the hostage deal.
This was all according to a joint statement made on Saturday by the ministries of Justice and Defense, Israel Police, IDF, and the National Insurance Institute.
Go to the full article >>Israeli hostages returning dead or alive depends on IDF, PIJ warns
"The people of the enemy prisoners must demand that the Zionist army stop the bombardment of the last hours, which is the reason for the killing of your children."
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)'s military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, called on the Israeli public to urge the IDF to stop strikes on the Gaza Strip before the ceasefire takes into effect, or they might harm or kill Israeli hostages before their release, in a statement on Telegram on Saturday.
"The people of the enemy prisoners must demand that the Zionist army stop the bombardment of the last hours, which is the reason for the killing of your children while the resistance is making the final field arrangements for their release," the statement began.
Go to the full article >>IDF preparing to implement Sunday morning ceasefire agreement
"We advise the inhabitants to take precaution, exercise the utmost caution, and wait for directions from official sources," Ansari stated.
The IDF is getting ready to implement the hostage deal and ceasefire agreement that is set to go into effect at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, the military reported on Saturday morning.
As part of the initiation of the ceasefire agreement, “IDF troops will implement the operational procedures in the field in accordance with the set agreements,” the military said, adding that it has been preparing to receive the hostages after their release.
Go to the full article >>Hamas: Mediators worded deal so Netanyahu could appease hardliners in gov’t
"Netanyahu wanted to resume the war after the first phase,” the official said.
A Hamas official claimed that mediators involved in the hostage and ceasefire negotiations included a clause allowing Israel to resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas violated the agreement.
"[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu wanted to resume the war after the first phase,” the official told London-based Qatari news outlet Al Araby Al Jadeed on Friday.
Go to the full article >>Israel publishes list of 735 terrorists to be freed as part of hostage deal
Among the more familiar names is Zakaria Zubeidi, former commander of Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Jenin.
The Justice Ministry published a list of 735 terrorists that will be released as part of the hostage deal that the Israeli government approved early Saturday morning.
Among the more familiar names is Zakaria Zubeidi, former commander of Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Jenin. Zubeidi was one of the prisoners involved in the 2021 Gilboa Prison break, in which six prisoners escaped from the high-security prison.
Go to the full article >>Details of the Gaza hostage deal
- 33 hostages to be released in the first phase
- IDF preparing to withdraw from areas of Gaza ahead of ceasefire
- Biden says American hostages to be released in first phase