From the Liveblog of
Friday, November 24, 2023
IDF completes preparations to receive hostages with air teams, therapists, toys
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF says it has completed preparations for the reception of the first group of 13 hostages set to be released at 4 p.m. today from the Gaza Strip, in an operation dubbed “Heaven’s Door.”
Once released from Gaza via Egypt, the hostages will be brought by the IDF to Hatzerim Airbase in southern Israel for an initial reception, where they will undergo a short physical and mental checkup.
The military has prepared psychologists and mental health experts to greet the hostages, many of whom are expected to be children. The experts will explain to them what happened in their community on October 7 when they believe the time is right.
The IDF has brought phones for the hostages so that they can call their relatives immediately upon arriving at Hatzerim.
The released hostages will remain for up to two hours at Hatzerim before being taken to a hospital, either by helicopter or minibus. The helicopters will be flying in a more comfortable and quiet mode.
Those who need immediate medical attention will be taken straight from the border to a hospital, without going to Hatzerim.
The families of the hostages are waiting at the hospitals, and hotel rooms have been reserved in the area.
Schneider children’s hospital has recommended that the hostages remain at least 48 hours under observation before being released home.
The same process will be carried out over the next four days for the remaining hostages who are to be released from Hamas captivity. Some 50 hostages — children, their mothers and other women — are set to be freed over the four days, during which the IDF is halting its military campaign to destroy Hamas in Gaza, with three Palestinian security prisoners to be freed in exchange for each hostage. The four-day truce can potentially be extended for one extra day for each group of 10 more hostages freed by Hamas.
The IDF in a statement asks the public to “show patience and sensitivity and respect the privacy of released hostages and their families” and not to circulate unverified information.
