By JNS/A7
Following an hours-long delay, Hamas released 11 Israelis held in the Gaza Strip on Monday, the fourth day of a truce between Jerusalem and the Palestinian terrorist organization.
The news of the hostages’ release came after Qatari mediators worked to resolve “issues” with the lists of Israeli captives and Palestinian terrorists to be released, an official briefed on the matter told Reuters.
CNN cited an Israeli official as saying there were “a number” of problems with Monday’s lists, one being that they did not contain any mothers. Under the terms of the deal, Hamas agreed that mothers would not be separated from their children, according to Jerusalem.
Two other sources familiar with the matter said at least one mother was included, just not the full group of mothers anticipated.
Saturday’s list did not include 12-year-old Hila Rotem Shoshani’s mother, Raya Rotem. Also, Mia Regev, 21, was freed without her 18-year-old brother Itai.
Under the four-day ceasefire that began on Friday morning, Hamas has now freed a total of 50 Israeli women and children. The terror group released an “extra” Israeli hostage on Sunday, a man with dual Russian citizenship, in a gesture to President Vladimir Putin.
Hamas also released a total of 19 foreign nationals in a side deal with Thailand.
In addition to temporarily pausing its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, Israel agreed to release some 150 female and teenage Palestinian security prisoners, many of whom are affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Hamas kidnapped some 240 people during its Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, during which thousands of heavily armed gunmen murdered some 1,200 people and wounded more than 5,000 others.
In a statement on Sunday, the Gaza-based terrorist group said that it was seeking to extend the truce beyond the four-day period if Israel makes a “serious effort” to increase the number of Palestinian terrorists released from prison.
On Monday night, U.S. National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said that Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the ceasefire-for-hostages agreement by two days.
“The humanitarian pause in Gaza, now in its fourth day, will be extended for another two days, through Thursday morning Israel time,” Kirby told journalists during a briefing.
“In order to extend the pause, Hamas has committed to releasing another 20 women and children,” added the spokesman.
The announcement came shortly after a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that “as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian pause for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip.”
The Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem told JNS earlier on Monday that Jerusalem is not publicly discussing whether the four-day ceasefire with Hamas will be extended or if not, when it will officially end.
Army Radio reported on Monday that Israel believes that Hamas is holding at least 20 more mothers, children, and elderly women. According to the report, Islamic Jihad handed over to Hamas most of the mothers, children, and elderly women it was holding captive.
Or Yaacov (16)
Or is a kid with a delicate and sensitive soul, attuned to others’ feelings, polite, quiet, and introverted.
He’s innocent, lovable, and sweet. An excellent student. Or is addicted to Fortnite, loves working out in the gym, and follows various influencers and YouTubers in the field of fitness. He enjoys peace and quiet. He is self-disciplined and determined and knows how to set goals for himself and achieve them.
Very independent and it’s important for him to work so he can buy things for himself. His father Yair remains in Hamas captivity.
Yagil Yaacov (12)
Yagil loves being the center of attention and is always surrounded by his friends. He is the girls’ favorite, and the class clown, always making everyone crack up. A 12-year-old who acts like he’s 22.
Extremely sharp and quick-thinking, charismatic, and draws people to him. No one can compete against his charm and appeal. Yagil loves being loud, and listening to music at full volume, especially in the shower – loves singers Omer Adam and Eden Hason. He’s into fashion and designer brands and has a lot of style. Has a very popular TikTok account. He’s a curious kid always finding himself new activities to pursue. Mostly hangs out with his friends and plays soccer. His father Yair remains in Hamas captivity.
Sharon Aloni Cunio (34)
The personal advisor for the Head of Ashkol Regional Council. The twins Emma and Yuli are the love of her life. When she worked in Public Relations for a film, she met David, the movie’s lead actor. The two fell in love and have been together ever since. Her husband, David, and his brother Ariel remain in Hamas captivity.
Emma Aloni Cunio (3)
Emma is 3 years old. She is an open-hearted and amazing child, full of love. A true kibbutz girl who prefers trucks and mechanical tools over dolls. Her father David remains in Hamas captivity.
Yuli Aloni Cunio (3)
Yuli is 3 years old. In the past Yuli was shy, and in the weeks before her kidnapping she became more open and smiley to her surroundings. Full of love. A true kibbutz girl who shares her sister’s love for trucks and tools, not dolls. Her father David remains in Hamas captivity.
Sahar Kalderon (16)
Kind and charming, Sahar is full of creativity. She loves art, drawing, sculpting clay, and listening to Korean pop and Billie Eilish. She also plays the bass guitar.
She’s into fashion and makeup. Loves her friends and is very well-liked. She deeply cares for people and animals and is very attached to the whole family. Helps taking care of her younger brother.
She does yoga and was very close with her grandmother Carmela Dan who was murdered on October 7th – they liked playing chess together, card games, and baking cookies. Her father Ofer remains in Hamas captivity.
Erez Kalderon (12)
A charming and lovable boy.
He has an amazing sense of humor, very cynical, like a standup comedian.
You can’t fool him – he reads between the lines and picks up on everything.
He plays the trumpet. He has a horse named Tinkerbell that he rides and in general, loves animals. Always wants to bring home rabbits, hamsters, cats, and dogs.
Erez rides mountain bikes and is on the cycling team. He likes going on jeep rides with his dad.
Erez likes soccer, ping pong, and hanging out with friends. Like many kids his age he likes video games and spends a lot of time on his phone. His father Ofer remains in Hamas captivity.
Karina Engel-Bart (52)
Karina holds her entire family together. She and her husband Ronen met at a dog park. Karina works in accounting and makes the tastiest schnitzels in the world. She recently recovered from breast cancer after two years of treatments and surgeries; unfortunately, she and her family were just returning to routine when they were kidnapped. She is still receiving medication for her condition. She, her husband, and their two daughters were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her husband Ronen remains a Hamas captive.
Mika Engel (18)
Mika, 18 years old, volunteers with children in schools and after-school programs—mainly with special needs children. She has always wanted to contribute as much as possible. Beloved everywhere she goes, she is always surrounded by friends. A fan of rapper Tuna, she knows his songs by heart and forces her whole family to listen to them. She loves animals and receives therapy for PTSD stemming from bombardments she experienced since she was a young child.
Yuval Engel (11)
Everyone calls Yuval “Yuvi.” She enjoys riding horses and raising her two dogs. Sharp, funny, and amazing, Yuvi is in the kibbutz youth movement and loves hiking with her family. An energetic ball of laughs, she is impossible not to love. Loves her mother’s schnitzels. Crazy about swimming and the pool, Yuvi also has a passion for her mother’s schnitzels.
Eitan Yahalomi (12)
Eitan, the oldest child and the heart of the family, is a very sensitive boy with a big heart and immense empathy for others. He always protects the vulnerable.
Eitan is loved by those around him, and has inherited his father’s charisma. He spends all his time with friends. He really loves football, and has been in a football club since first grade. Proud to make Ashkol’s league, Eitan happily wore the number 11 shirt.
Eitan is a very smart and outstanding student, and was in 2nd grade and was accepted to the gifted students program. Eitan also really loves reading books, especially fantasy books. Eitan is also a very sensitive boy and has anxieties. He and his father, Ohad, were kidnapped to Gaza.
Residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities that was hardest hit in the massacre of October 7, have confirmed that all 11 Israeli hostages who were released this evening are from their community.
Out of the remaining hostages being held in Gaza, 49 are from Nir Oz. This list includes women, men, children, mothers, fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers.
Osnat Peri, the Head of the Kibbutz said: “The news this evening brings a sigh of relief to our community, however we remain deeply concerned about our loved ones that are still held hostage. We demand the return of all hostages, immediately, whatever it takes.”
The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum headquarters said, “The families’ headquarters welcome the release of the hostages tonight. However, we remain concerned and want to emphasize that all the children released today still have fathers in Hamas captivity.
“We won’t rest until they are reunited and all the hostages are back home. Bring them back now,” the statement added.
