Report: Deal to see release of female civilian hostages, followed by female soldiers, elderly and severely ill

The emerging hostage deal will begin with the release of three female civilian hostages on the first day of the first 42-day phase. Each subsequent week will begin with the release of another group of hostages, Channel 12 reports, without citing any sources.

The releases will begin with the female civilian hostages along with the Bibas children Ariel and Kfir. Hamas claimed at the beginning of the war that they and their mother Shiri were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The IDF said it was probing the matter and has since said that it doesn’t have intelligence confirming that they’re no longer alive.

The next group to be released in the first phase will be female soldiers, followed by the elderly and then those who are deemed extremely ill, with 33 hostages being released in total.

The Channel 12 report has not been confirmed by Israeli authorities.

The majority of those slated for release are believed to be alive.