Hamas terrorists hand over ten more Israeli hostages and two foreign nationals to Israel as ceasefire enters final day tomorrow
Hamas has extradited a fifth group of Israeli and foreign hostages and they are now back on Israeli soil, the army said, ahead of the final day of the ceasefire tomorrow.
Photos show the prisoners being escorted by balaclava-clad Hamas terrorists in Gaza as they prepare to hand them over to the Red Cross and Israel. Some could be seen in wheelchairs and wrapped in bandages.
The Israelis in the group were named as 36-year-old Rimon Kirsht, whose husband remains hostage, Gabriela Leimberg, 59, and her daughter Mia, 17, who was filmed holding her dog while flanked by Hamas fighters .
The group also includes Mia’s aunt Clara Merman, 63, Argentina-born Ofelia Roitman, 77, Ditza Herman, 84, Tamar Metzger, 78. The last three hostages named are Merav Tal, 53, Philippines-born Noralin Babdilla, 60, and Ada. Sagi, 75, whose British son Noam has campaigned tirelessly in Israel and London for her release.
The fifth group of hostages is also said to include two foreigners, who have not yet been named, bringing the total number of those released to twelve.
It comes after a tentative pause in fighting earlier appeared to be at stake, when Israel and Hamas leveled accusations that the other side had violated the agreement for the first time since it came into effect.
Hamas fighters escort newly released hostages before handing them over to the Red Cross in Rafah
The fifth group of hostages would include nine women and one child
Relatives arrive at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv district, where hostages are expected to be released amid a hostage-prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel
One of the hostages was in a wheelchair when she was taken by Hamas fighters to be handed over to Israel
Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters speak with Red Cross members during the release of hostages in Rafah
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that three explosive devices were detonated near its forces at two locations in northern Gaza, with terrorists allegedly opening fire on them at one location and returning gunfire.
Hamas also accused Israel of committing a “flagrant ceasefire violation,” to which the fighters responded, without providing details. Both sides have claimed they are committed to the continued ceasefire.
The already extended ceasefire deal is expected to end tomorrow, with the last group expected to be released before fighting resumes.
Negotiators are desperately calling on both sides to further extend the pause, Egypt and Qatar say, as international calls for a long-term ceasefire mount.
A senior diplomatic source in the Knesset told The Times of Israel about the negotiations to extend the ceasefire: βIf there is a concrete proposal, the cabinet will consider it, but there has been nothing like that yet.
“If we see that it is a serious proposal, we will investigate it.”
Teenage hostage Mia was flanked by Hamas fighters and held her dog during her release
Noam Sagi (L), 53, pictured with his mother, Ada Sagi (R)
But Israel says it remains committed to destroying Hamas’ military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule over Gaza.
That would likely mean expanding a ground offensive from Gaza’s devastated north to the south.
About 1,200 people were killed in Israel during Hamas’ bloody Oct. 7 invasion that ignited the war.
More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.
About 240 hostages were captured by Hamas, with just over 160 believed to still be in captivity after a series of exchanges with Palestinian prisoners.
Hopes that Hamas would eventually be able to return all the hostages to Israel without any problems were dashed last night when it emerged that as many as 40 people captured during the brutal October 7 attacks β including 10-month-old Kfir Bibas β are no longer under the captivity of the terrorist organization Israel. Palestinian group
The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were captured by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023
The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking published in the early days of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The family of the youngest hostage taken by Hamas has called for his return as it was previously confirmed he was not on the list for the latest release.
Ten-month-old Kfir Bibas has been missing since October 7, along with his father Yarden, wife Shiri, 32, and their son Ariel, four, while relatives hoped they would be returned during the extended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas .
But an IDF spokesman said Shiri, Ariel and Kfir were believed to have been handed over to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) β a jihadist group that wants to destroy Israel and has historically rejected any diplomatic involvement in Tel-Aviv.