There are still 20 hostages set to be released under the framework of the first phase of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, after Omer Kalderon, Keith Siegel, and Yarden Bibas were returned to Israeli territory on Saturday.
Since the ceasefire on January 19, a total of 18 hostages – 13 Israelis and five Thai nationals – have been released in phase one: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Emily Damari, Daniella Gilboa, Romi Gonen, Naama Levy, Arbel Yehoud, Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, Gadi Moshe Moses, Keith Siegal, Doron Steinbrecher, Seathao Bannawat, Thenna Pongsak, Rumnao Surasak, Sathian Suwannakham, and Sriaoun Watchara.
The five Thai nationals were not originally on the list of 33, but negotiators were able to secure their release later in the deliberation process.
The remaining 20 hostages are: Ohad Ben Ami, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas, Eliya Cohen, Sagui Dekel Chen, Itzhak Elgarat, Yair Horn, Tsachi Idan, Or Levy, Oded Lifshitz, Shlomo Mantzur, Eli Sharabi, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Alexandre Sasha Troufanov, Omer Wenkert, and Ohad Yahalomi, who were all kidnapped on October 7, as well as Avraham (Avera) Mengisto and Hisham Al-Sayed, who were taken hostage in the 2014-2015 period.
They are due to be released every Saturday, three at a time, in the coming weeks, with the last nine hostages and the two earlier hostages mentioned to be released on March 1, or Day 42, which will conclude Phase I of the deal. Hamas has stated that of these 20 that are expected to be released, eight are deceased. Israel confirmed this last week, without naming who they are.
The comprehensive list disclosing the life status of the hostages still in captivity has not yet been released or confirmed by the Israeli government. Hostage family members urged the government to prioritize living hostages before those who are presumed dead.
“My brother is on the list of the 33 kidnapped people who are supposed to return. He is probably not alive. He is probably among the eight deceased hostages set to return in the deal,” Danny Elgarat, brother of hostage Itzhak Elgarat, said on Tuesday. “Leave the bodies there; bring back living people. My brother is there as a fallen soldier, and I am saying on my behalf that I am willing to leave him there for now if it means bringing back someone alive.”
Phases two and three
Of the 59 hostages that were not included in Phase I, 24 are believed to be alive. The remaining 35 were confirmed to be dead. The hostages set to be released in later phases are 11 Supernova music festival revelers, four soldiers, seven residents of the Gaza border area, and two foreign workers.
Their release depends on phases two and three of the proposed ceasefire deal going into effect. The framework that both parties agreed upon in January would see all remaining living hostages released in phase II and the bodies of the rest would be returned to Israel in phase III.
However, for Israel to get the hostages due to be released on Day 42 – let alone the Phase II hostages – it is due to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is saying he will not do unless there is a formula in place to replace Hamas as the governing force in Gaza.
The negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal begin today. A Hamas source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that its mediators, along with those from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, would be present in Doha. Reports have indicated that Israel may stay aloof, speaking directly only to the US, which would then represent its position in the Qatari capital.
The source also said that Hamas reportedly told mediators it was ready to engage in the second phase. However, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha told the outlet that Israel was creating obstacles in the negotiations through “evasion, procrastination, and obstruction of the implementation of what was agreed upon.”
On Sunday, Netanyahu took off for Washington to meet with senior US officials. On Tuesday, he will meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss phase II of the hostage deal, among other topics.