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Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict, eight of the 33 hostages initially set to be released during the first phase of a fragile ceasefire agreement have been confirmed dead, as reported on Monday by The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). The terrorist organization provided Israel with a list identifying the deceased and affirmed that the remaining 25 hostages on the list are alive. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer verified this disturbing update on Sunday.
The delivery of this list came amidst ongoing violations of the truce by Hamas. Despite these infractions, the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem announced late Sunday that Hamas would release three more hostages this Thursday. According to the information provided in the JNS report, the captives scheduled for release include Arbel Yehud, a civilian, Agam Berger, an IDF soldier, and an unidentified man. An additional three hostages are expected to be freed on Saturday under the terms of the ceasefire deal.
So far, seven hostages have been released by Hamas, but the broader crisis remains dire. Out of the 251 individuals kidnapped during Hamas’s terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, at least 87 are still believed to be in Gaza, as per JNS. Tragically, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the deaths of at least 34 of these hostages. Adding to the complexity of the crisis, Hamas continues to hold two Israeli civilians who inadvertently entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015, along with the remains of an IDF soldier killed in 2014. Earlier this month, the remains of another soldier were recovered.
Hamas’s failure to provide the required list of hostages on Saturday led Israeli authorities to delay the planned return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. According to the JNS report, this delay illustrates the challenges in maintaining even a temporary truce amidst violations by Hamas.
On Monday, displaced Palestinians began crossing the Netzarim Corridor south of Gaza City on foot, followed by vehicle crossings on a parallel inland highway. However, as JNS reported, heavy traffic and the lack of clarity regarding vehicle inspections under the ceasefire terms created additional complications. Despite these logistical challenges, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized on Sunday that Israel remains committed to the truce but warned of severe repercussions for future violations, stating, “We will not allow a return to the reality of Oct. 7, [2023].”
The ceasefire agreement, initially aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis, stipulated the release of 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were convicted of deadly attacks. Thus far, Hamas has released seven hostages, while over 300 Palestinian detainees have been freed, as indicated in the JNS report.
As both sides brace for the next phases of negotiations, the stakes are becoming increasingly perilous. Hamas has made it clear that the release of the remaining 60 hostages is contingent upon Israel ceasing its military operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains unwavering in his goal to dismantle Hamas and bring an end to its 18-year reign over Gaza. According to JNS, the political and military impasse creates significant hurdles for future talks, as both parties prepare for potentially grueling negotiations.
In a chilling revelation, some of the seven hostages recently released from Gaza during the current ceasefire described harrowing conditions of captivity in Hamas tunnels, where they were held for eight consecutive months. Deprived of daylight and human contact, these individuals endured unimaginable isolation, as confirmed by Colonel Dr. Avi Banov, deputy commander of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Medical Corps. According to the JNS report, these captives were kept underground, with some being entirely alone for the duration of their captivity.
Banov stated that those who were held in groups exhibited better physical and mental health compared to those in solitary confinement. Speaking to JNS, he explained, “Some of them were alone through the entire time they were there. Those who said they were together were in better shape.” The hostages reported an improvement in their treatment shortly before their release, which included being allowed to bathe, change clothes, and eat better-quality food.
Upon their release, the freed hostages underwent initial health assessments supervised by the IDF. As per the information provided in the JNS report, many had not received adequate care for wounds they sustained during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Signs of “mild starvation” were observed in some individuals, reflecting the severe deprivation they experienced in captivity.
The first three civilian women released on January 19 were treated at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan and were discharged on Sunday, as per JNS. Meanwhile, the four female soldiers released on January 25 remain under medical care at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, where doctors have noted significant progress in their recovery. Nutritional and other health indicators are improving, though medical evaluations are ongoing.
The emotional journey of those impacted by hostage releases continues to highlight the human toll of the ongoing conflict. Devorah Leshem, grandmother of 20-year-old Romi Gonen, described the indescribable moment when she hugged her granddaughter after 471 grueling days of captivity by Hamas. Speaking to Kan Reshet Bet, Israel National News (INN) reported, she said, “It was the best thing, the hug that I got from Romi. I didn’t cry at all, I only cried on the inside. Today I’m talking and smiling. When Romi and I hugged, she didn’t cry either.”
Romi, who endured the trauma of prolonged isolation in Hamas captivity, expressed gratitude and concern for others still detained. INN noted her first words to her grandmother: “Grandma, make sure the others return. I returned.” Devorah revealed that while Romi’s medical condition is stable, the 471 days of captivity have left a profound impact. “What’s important is that the head works,” she said. “The body can be dealt with. We have to return all 90 hostages who are left behind.”
While Romi’s release brought relief, the fate of others remains tragic. Dani Elgarat, brother of Itzik Elgarat, revealed devastating news during a Knesset Constitution Committee meeting. According to a list received from Hamas, Itzik is among the eight hostages who have died in captivity. As INN reported, Dani expressed frustration and anguish: “My brother is on the list of the hostages who are supposed to return now, and he is apparently not alive… He was sacrificed on the altar of the Philadelphi Corridor.”
Elgarat’s grief was compounded by his belief that earlier negotiations could have saved lives. “In the December deal, he was alive, and they left him there. In May, he was again on the list, and he was alive. It was possible to save him if they would have accepted the previous deal,” he said. Dani charged that the decision to delay the release of certain hostages led to the deaths of 40 individuals, calling for accountability for what he described as a failure to act decisively.
Despite his loss, Elgarat’s remarks carried a profound plea for prioritizing the lives of remaining hostages. “If my brother is deceased, don’t bring him,” he stated, as reported by INN. “Leave the deceased and bring eight living hostages instead. Bring them back from hell.”
Tzvika Mor, father of hostage Eitan Mor, expressed his deep frustration and anguish over the recent hostage deal between Israel and Hamas in an interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News (INN). His candid remarks encapsulate a spectrum of emotions, from joy for those freed to despair for those left behind, and profound concern for the broader implications of the deal on Israel’s security and resilience.
“There are three levels of emotions,” Mor explained to INN. “Joy for each one who has already returned. This situation where our girls are there, in the hands of Hamas, is unacceptable, and we are happy that they are returning and look, at least physically, good. On the second level, we are concerned for our son who unfortunately was not included in this deal, and we don’t know what will happen next. On the third level, there is great concern for the people of Israel.”
Mor did not mince words in criticizing the terms of the hostage deal. Speaking to INN, he lamented the release of convicted terrorists in exchange for hostages, warning that this decision undermines Israel’s security and resilience. “We know what happens when terrorists are released. Now we see that the terrorists are returning to their villages for celebrations, which are actually recruitment parties for terrorist organizations,” Mor said. “We know that this deal will cost us, unfortunately, a lot of blood. We are deeply saddened that the release of the hostages was done this way.”
His concerns reflect fears that the deal, while securing the release of some hostages, may embolden Hamas and other terror organizations. INN reported that Mor, along with others in the Tikva Forum, had advocated for a strategy that would strengthen Israel’s deterrence rather than undermine it.
A central theme of Mor’s criticism, as reported by INN, is his dissatisfaction with the government’s framework for determining which hostages qualify for release. “I think the whole idea of defining a hostage as a ‘humanitarian case’ is problematic,” he said. “Isn’t my son, after 15 months in captivity, a humanitarian case? Moreover, how can this be what the Israeli government gives us? A bad deal of surrender that doesn’t save all the hostages.”
Mor further expressed his dismay over what he sees as a concession to Hamas. “Right now, it looks very bad. It seems like the war is over. A million Gazans will return to the north and establish themselves there. How will we move them later? Additionally, Trump wants quiet here. I am very concerned, and I think every citizen in the State of Israel should be concerned,” he said to INN.
According to INN, Mor also accused the Israeli government and media of silencing dissent, particularly among the national religious and right-wing communities. He claimed that a “huge campaign” was launched to suppress protests against the deal, which he described as a “surrender and shame.” Mor questioned the broader strategy behind Israel’s concessions, asking why soldiers’ sacrifices were made only to return to a status quo where Hamas remains in control of Gaza.
“The national religious public and the right-wing public, in particular, stayed home. A campaign caused us to go out and sing in the square on Tuesday instead of shouting and demanding victory and questioning why we sacrificed hundreds of soldiers,” he told INN.
As negotiations for the second phase of the hostage deal approach, Mor has one clear demand: the return of all remaining hostages. “If the Israeli government decided to surrender—and it’s a pity they did—at least they should return all the hostages at this stage,” Mor said to INN. He criticized the phased nature of the deal, insisting that all hostages be released immediately. “There can’t be groups or selections. We want to see everyone return, and then we’ll deal with the Gaza Strip so that it no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel.”
The Islamic Jihad terrorist organization released a video on Monday evening, offering a long-awaited sign of life from civilian hostage Arbel Yehud. In the video, Yehud, visibly composed, noted the date as Saturday and addressed her family with heartfelt words: “I am fine, I miss you endlessly and hope to return to you soon.” The video marks a rare glimpse into the conditions of hostages held in Gaza, as reported by INN.
Yehud was abducted from the kibbutz of Nir Oz during the October 7 Hamas-led attack, alongside her partner Ariel Cuneo, who remains in captivity. According to INN, Yehud is slated to be released this Thursday as part of a negotiated agreement. Her family has yet to publicly confirm the authenticity of the video, but its release offers a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty surrounding the fate of numerous other hostages.
Yehud’s release was originally scheduled to occur in the second phase of the ongoing hostage deal on Saturday. However, INN reported that a breach in the agreement by Hamas led to her release being postponed. The failure to include Yehud in the second phase triggered a crisis in the negotiations. After intense discussions, an agreement was reached late Sunday to ensure her release, along with that of IDF soldier Agam Berger and another unidentified hostage, as early as Thursday. Additionally, three more hostages are scheduled to be released on Saturday, reflecting the gradual and precarious progress of the hostage exchange process.
Hamas hailed the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza as a symbolic “victory,” framing it as a failure of Israeli “displacement plans.” This statement reflects the group’s ongoing attempts to leverage the ceasefire as a propaganda tool, according to JNS. However, concerns over Hamas’s adherence to the terms of the agreement have already surfaced.
Israel’s Channel 12 News broadcast images purportedly showing armed Hamas terrorists moving among the returning civilian population, in what appears to be a clear violation of the ceasefire terms. These images depict the challenges of enforcing compliance with agreements in the context of such a volatile and complex conflict, JNS reported.
