Israel has announced that eight of the 26 hostages due to be freed by Hamas as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal are dead.
Israeli Government spokesperson, David Mencer, confirmed that the information came from a list provided by Hamas, which was consistent with Israeli intelligence.
“The list from Hamas matches Israel’s intelligence, so I can share with you that… eight have been killed by Hamas,” Mencer stated, without identifying the victims. “The families have been informed of the situation of their relatives.”
The ceasefire, which began on 19 January, has so far seen seven women released alive in exchange for over 290 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Sunday that Hamas has agreed to release three more hostages on Thursday, including female civilian Arbel Yehud, female soldier Agam Berger, and one other. Three additional hostages are expected to be released on Saturday.
The conflict erupted following an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, during which Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry, run by Hamas, reports over 47,310 deaths. Israel estimates 87 hostages remain in captivity, with 34 presumed dead.
Among the hostages awaiting release is Or Levy, who was abducted while attending the Nova music festival with his wife, Eynav. After seeking refuge in a roadside shelter, Eynav was killed, and Or was taken to Gaza. Or’s brother, Michael, described the uncertainty surrounding his fate as “a reality the devil himself invented and part of an evil reality show that Hamas is enjoying.”
The Israeli military remains deeply concerned about the welfare of other hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, whom Hamas previously claimed were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel insists they are among the 33 hostages expected to be released in the first phase.
Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement are slated to begin on 4 February. This phase would see the remaining hostages exchanged for further prisoner releases, a complete Israeli troop withdrawal, and the restoration of calm. The final stage is expected to involve Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of any remaining hostages’ bodies.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is urging the government to ensure the full implementation of all three phases. “We are not whole without them all. Our nation needs everyone at home, together. Until the last hostage,” the group declared.
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