Israel won’t notify hostages’ families until their relatives are out of Gaza to prevent false hope — official

By Tal Schneider

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and Carrie Keller-Lynn 22 November 2023, 7:14 pm Edit

Alexandra Ariev, center, speaks during a press conference at the Italian Jewish Center in Rome, November 22, 2023, with other representatives of the families of the Israelis abducted by Hamas on October 7 and believed to be held hostage by terrorists in Gaza, shortly after they met with Pope Francis at The Vatican. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

The first group of hostages, slated to be released tomorrow, will be transferred to the International Red Cross and possibly to other unspecified parties. They will be transferred via one of Gaza’s international border crossings, says a senior Israeli official briefing reporters

Upon receiving proof that the hostages released are the Israeli citizens specifically agreed upon, Israel will release its agreed group of Palestinian prisoners.

Given concerns that Hamas may not release the specific hostages it promises to release, Israel has decided not to inform the relevant families that their loved ones are expected tomorrow, the senior official says.

After being received on the Israeli side, the then-former hostages will be immediately flown to hospitals, the official says.