The 33 hostages who were returned in phase one of the Gaza ceasefire deal: Row 1 (L-R): Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Arbel Yehoud, Doron Steinbrecher, Ariel Bibas, Kfir Bibas, Shiri Bibas; Row 2: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Danielle Gilboa, Naama Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, Gadi Moshe Mozes; Row 3: Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon, Eli Sharabi, Itzik Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, Ohad Yahalomi, Oded Lifshitz; Row 4: Tsahi Idan, Hisham al-Sayed, Yarden Bibas, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Iair Horn, Omer Wenkert, Sasha Troufanov; Row 5: Eliya Cohen, Or Levy, Avera Mengistu, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov (all photos courtesy)
Hebrew media outlets report, citing unnamed senior Israeli officials, that a list Hamas has sent on the status of the hostages set to be freed in the ongoing first phase of the ceasefire only includes an overall number of captives who are alive rather than a specification regarding each abductee.
However, the sources say the number matches the intelligence Israel has and doesn’t contain “surprises.”
Reports have previously stated Israel believes 25 of the 33 hostages slated for release in the first phase are alive. With seven captives already released alive over the past week, this would mean that 18 of the remaining 26 hostages are alive while eight are dead.
Six of the captives are set to be released by the end of this week — three on Thursday and three on Saturday. The Prime Minister’s Office has said Thursday will see the release of civilian woman Arbel Yehoud, the remaining IDF lookout soldier Agam Berger, and a third unidentified captive.
Keith Siegel, taken captive by Hamas terrorists from his home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023 (Courtesy)
NBC News has previously said Keith Siegel, 65, a US native, will be released in the coming week, though it’s unclear if this will happen on Thursday or Saturday.
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