With doctors and therapists: Army completes preparations to receive hostages
Three complexes set up near Gaza border, where freed captives will receive initial treatment before being taken to the hospital
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The military said Saturday it had completed its preparations for receiving the hostages set to be released by Hamas from the Gaza Strip under the upcoming ceasefire deal. The first three hostages are to go free Sunday afternoon.
The Israel Defense Forces established three complexes near the Gaza border, at Re’im Base, the Kerem Shalom Crossing and the Erez Crossing. Hostages will be taken to the appropriate complex based on the location of their release. Upon arrival, the hostages will meet with IDF representatives, doctors, psychologists, and mental health officers, and receive initial treatment.
From there, they will be escorted by the IDF to hospitals, where they will meet their families.
The IDF estimates that it will be some two hours from the moment the Red Cross hands over the hostages to troops in Gaza, and until the moment they head from the army facilities to a hospital.
Last Thursday, the Health Ministry issued new guidelines for hospitals preparing to receive the hostages, including administering tests for sexually transmitted diseases as well as pregnancy tests for female hostages.
The protocol advises a minimum hospital stay of four days for returning hostages. Dr. Hagar Mizrahi, head of the Health Ministry’s General Medicine Division, noted that some of the previously released hostages eventually regretted leaving earlier than recommended, suggesting extended stays could better support their recovery.
Israel Defense Forces personnel prepare complexes and hospital rooms for returning hostages, in advance of the implementation of a hostage-ceasefire deal with the Hamas terror group, January 18, 2025. (IDF)
The guidelines emphasize the need for heightened attention to hygiene, due to concerns of potential exposure to pathogens during captivity.
The ministry also urges families and visitors to avoid taking photos or posting updates on social media from hospital premises, warning such actions could inadvertently harm the recovery process of those freed from Hamas captivity.
Israel says 98 hostages are currently held in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 36 confirmed dead by the IDF.
The agreed-upon first phase of the deal will see Hamas release 33 “humanitarian” hostages over 42 days — children, women, female soldiers, the elderly and the sick, while Israel will release up to 1,904 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including several serving multiple life sentences for deadly terror attacks and murder, amid the ceasefire.
Israel believes most of the 33 are alive but that some are dead. Jerusalem has not yet received word on each hostage’s status.
Diana Bletter contributed to this report.