The relatives of six Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip have confirmed that they will be released on Saturday as part of the Alto El Fuego agreement. This development comes after Hamas announced that it will release the rest of the live hostages from the first phase of the truce by February 22.
Confirmation from the Families
The families of the hostages, including Shham, Omer Wenkrat, Avera Mengistu, Hisham al Sayed, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen, have expressed their hope that their relatives will be released alive on Saturday, based on statements from Israeli authorities. Notably, two of the six hostages, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al Sayed, were kidnapped in Gaza after voluntarily entering the enclave in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Reaction from Al Sayed’s Family
Al Sayed’s relatives have stated that the news of his return fills them with joy, but this joy “will not be complete until all the hostages return home.” They also emphasized that the agreement cannot end here, and no other hostage should face a decade in captivity, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive resolution.
Response from the Hostage and Disappeared Families Forum
The Hostage and Disappeared Families Forum, which represents the majority of the relatives of the kidnapped on October 7, has celebrated the news of the six captives being alive. However, they have also expressed devastation upon hearing that four other hostages will return dead on Thursday. This mixed news underscores the complex and sensitive nature of the hostage situation.
Details of the Agreement
As part of the Alto El Fuego Agreement with Israel, Hamas is expected to deliver four other hostage lifeless bodies, in order to complete the 33 releases planned in the first phase. Last week, it was announced that Israeli hostage Shlomo Mansur, an 85-year-old resident of Kibutz Kisufim, had died in captivity. Mansur is included in the list of 33 hostages to be released during the first phase.
Remaining Hostages
This leaves four more names on the list: Itzik Elgrat, 70 years old; Ohad Yahalomi, 50; Oded Lifshitz, 84; and Tsahi Idan, 50. For the moment, Israel has not confirmed the deaths of any of them, except for that of Mansur, as the situation continues to unfold with a mix of hope and sorrow for the families of the hostages.