Hamas freed some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoner release, temporary cease-fire
The Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7 resulted in the abduction of over 240 civilians and soldiers by Palestinian terrorists. In response, Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas and recover the hostages. Throughout a series of temporary cease-fire agreements that lasted until December 1, Hamas released dozens of hostages.
The Israel-Hamas hostage deal, initiated on November 24, involved a temporary cease-fire where Hamas released civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The exchanges focused on women and minors from both sides. Additionally, Hamas released more hostages through separate agreements with other countries. As part of the cease-fire pact, Israel agreed to allow fuel delivery from Egypt to Gaza and to limit drone surveillance in northern Gaza to six hours a day.
During the first phase of the cease-fire, Hamas released 50 civilian hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days. The temporary truce was extended, maintaining a pattern of exchanging three Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli hostage. However, the agreement ended when Hamas couldn’t provide a new list of hostages, leading to a resumption of hostilities on December 1.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed commitment to extending the truce to secure more hostage releases, but resisted efforts by Qatar and Egypt to negotiate a permanent cease-fire with Hamas. The Israeli military resumed its campaign against the terrorist group on December 1, with both Israel and the U.S. designating Hamas, in control of Gaza since 2007, as a terrorist organization.
When will the hostages be released?
As of November 30, a total of 109 hostages were released by Hamas, with 105 of them being released during the temporary cease-fire initiated on November 24. Among the released hostages, 81 were Israelis or dual nationals, and 24 were citizens of Thailand (23) and the Philippines (1). It’s noteworthy that Hamas had previously released four hostages in October.
What does Hamas want in exchange for hostages?
Hamas has set forth several demands in exchange for releasing hostages held in Gaza. They include the implementation of an Israeli cease-fire, the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, and the delivery of fuel into the Gaza Strip. Before October 7, Israel held over 5,000 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza in its prisons, many of whom were convicted of security offenses.
Following October 7, the Israeli prison service received more than 2,600 new security prisoners, primarily adult male Palestinians. As part of the cease-fire deal starting on November 24, Israel released three Palestinian prisoners for every hostage released by Hamas.
Prisoner exchanges have played a significant role in the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. In 2011, terrorists in Gaza released Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit after over five years in captivity. This release involved a swap for 1,027 Palestinians, including a senior Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, who is currently a primary target in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
How many hostages does Hamas have?
On October 7, more than 240 individuals were taken hostage by Hamas and other attackers. Israel has been revising its hostage count in Gaza as hostages are released, and investigators identify victims of the attacks while obtaining new information.
As of the latest calculations by Israel on Friday, there are 136 hostages remaining in Gaza. This includes 125 Israelis, comprising dual nationals, and accounts for bodies that haven’t been repatriated. Among the captives are 20 women, two children, and ten individuals over the age of 75, according to the Israeli prime minister’s hostage envoy. Foreign citizens among the hostages include eight from Thailand, one from Nepal, one from Tanzania, and one France-Mexico dual national.
Hamas is not the sole holder of all remaining hostages in Gaza. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., claimed in October to be holding over 30 people abducted on October 7. Hamas has reportedly transferred some of its hostages to other factions, complicating efforts to secure their release.
In October, Hamas released four civilians, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the recovery of an IDF private. The IDF discovered two dead hostages during military operations near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and later brought the body of another hostage back to Israel. After the temporary cease-fire ended on December 1, an additional six hostages were declared dead, with their bodies yet to be recovered.
One hostage reported by Palestinian Islamic Jihad to have died in captivity, Hanna Katzir, was released under the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal.
Who are the hostages?
Individuals taken hostage in Gaza hail from 29 different nations, including Israel, and the group includes women, children, and the elderly. Many of the hostages possess dual nationalities. According to the U.S., nine Americans and one U.S. permanent resident were among those kidnapped. Among the captives are laborers from Asia and Africa, with a significant number being Thai farmers.
The hostages include individuals who were attending a music festival in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. Additionally, some were residents or visitors at kibbutzim, the farming communities in the area where numerous people fell victim to the terrorist attacks.
Did Hamas release hostages before the temporary cease-fire deal?
In October, Hamas released four hostages who were abducted from Israel. Among them were two Americans, Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie from Evanston, Ill., who were released on October 20. Three days later, two Israeli women, Nurit Cooper (79) and Yocheved Lifshitz (85), were also released. However, their husbands, both in their 80s, are still being held in Gaza, as reported by the Israeli prime minister’s office.
On October 30, the Israeli military announced that it had successfully rescued Pvt. Ori Megidish, a soldier who was abducted by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attacks. This rescue operation took place during ground operations in Gaza.
Where are the hostages in Gaza being held?
Hamas claimed that hostages were strategically placed across Gaza to hinder Israeli military operations in the densely populated Palestinian enclave. Israel released closed-circuit video footage from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, depicting terrorists moving two hostages through the hospital shortly before Israeli soldiers took control of the compound. The identified individuals in the footage include a Nepalese student who remains captive and a Thai farmer who was released on November 26. In November, two hostages found dead were located near Al-Shifa.
Yocheved Lifshitz, one of the Israeli hostages released in October, recounted being held in a complex network of deep, wet underground tunnels, describing it as a “spiderweb.” Hostages released in November also reported being held underground, according to accounts from family and friends, likely within the extensive tunnel network maintained by Hamas terrorists throughout Gaza.
How has Hamas treated the hostages?
The hostages released by Hamas underwent challenging conditions that health experts believe will have lasting psychological, if not physical, effects, especially for the children. Accounts from family and friends reveal that their captors provided insufficient food and water, and some elderly hostages were denied access to medication. Hostages were held in small groups, constantly moved around Gaza, and separated from their loved ones, sometimes just before being released.
Upon release, the hostages struggled to adapt to light and suffered from a lack of vitamin C and physical exercise after being confined in cramped underground conditions for weeks, as reported by a doctor who treated some of them. Some individuals needed treatment for injuries sustained during their abduction or captivity. While most were in stable or good condition, doctors noted that an 84-year-old woman was released in critical condition.
