Hostage Deal Back on Track: 17 More Israelis to Be Freed

The hostage release deal continues, with 76 hostages still in Hamas captivity. As part of the current phase of the agreement, 17 hostages are expected to be released soon. Today (Friday), Hamas is expected to provide Israel with the names of the next three hostages set for release on Saturday under the terms of the deal brokered by mediators.

17 More Hostages Set for Release

Among those included in this phase of the deal are Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, with IDF officials expressing deep concerns about their fate. In addition to the Bibas family, five elderly male hostages are set for release in the coming weeks: Itzik Algart, the late Shlomo Mansour, Ohad Yahalomi, Oded Lifshitz, and Tzachi Idan.

The 33 Hostages Included in First Part of the Deal:

Also included in this stage of the deal are Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, both of whom were kidnapped years before the current war and are expected to be freed by the conclusion of this phase. However, officials confirmed that eight of the 17 hostages scheduled for release are deceased, and their remains will be returned to Israel after their fate was clarified.

20 Hostages Released So Far in This Stage

Thus far, 20 hostages have been freed under the current deal, including both civilians and female soldiers. Among the first to return home were Romi Gonen, Emily Tehila Damari, and Doron Steinbacher, who were abducted on October 7.

Following their release, four female IDF observers from Nahal Oz outpost were also freed: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy.

 

Subsequent releases included Arbel Yehud, Gadi Moses, and Agam Berger, along with five Thai nationals. Later, Ofer Calderon, Yarden Bibas, and Keith Siegel were also freed. The most recent phase saw the return of Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy, all suffering from severe malnutrition, sparking public outrage and comparisons to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Later today, Hamas is expected to provide the names of the next three hostages scheduled for release on Saturday. This marks another step forward in the deal, with a total of 17 hostages slated for release in the coming days.

Call to action: Continued prayers are needed for all of the hostages to be freed as soon as possible.