In a significant development, the Palestinian militant group Hamas transferred two Israeli hostages to the Red Cross on Saturday, as shown in live television footage. A third hostage is expected to be released later in the day.
The handover took place in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, marking the latest phase of a negotiated exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
The two hostages released were identified as Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli dual national, and Yarden Bibas. A Red Cross official received them in Khan Younis. Later on Saturday, Keith Siegel, a US-Israeli dual national, is anticipated to be handed over at a separate location.
Yarden Bibas is the father of two of the youngest hostages, 9-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel, who were abducted during the Hamas-led cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. Their mother, Shiri, was also taken during the same incident. In November 2023, Hamas claimed that the boys and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike, though no further information about their fate has been provided since.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel is expected to release 182 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, according to Hamas.
Additionally, Saturday marks the reopening of the Rafah crossing, allowing the first group of Palestinians to travel from Gaza to Egypt. Initially, 50 injured militants and 50 wounded civilians, along with their escorts, will be permitted to cross. Another 100 individuals, primarily students, are likely to be allowed through on humanitarian grounds.
So far, 17 of the 33 hostages slated for release in the first phase of the ceasefire have been freed in exchange for 400 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Negotiations are set to begin by Tuesday to discuss the release of more than 60 remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza as part of the second phase of the agreement.
The initial six-week ceasefire, brokered with the help of Egyptian and Qatari mediators and supported by the United States, has largely held despite several incidents that have led both sides to accuse each other of violating the terms.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel’s military campaign has caused widespread destruction in the densely populated Gaza Strip and claimed the lives of more than 47,000 Palestinians, as reported by Palestinian health authorities.
