The Israeli military announced this evening that eleven additional hostages held by Hamas are now back on Israeli soil following the fourth hostage and prisoner exchange.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said this evening that “an elite IDF unit” had accompanied the group, all young children, teenagers and mothers, back to Israel, where they would undergo medical examinations.
“Our forces will accompany the returnees until they reach their families in the hospitals.”
All eleven hostages, consisting of three French citizens, two German citizens and six Argentine citizens, who were released this evening were all kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a settlement just a mile and a half from the Gaza border, according to the population the incursion was about 400.
The hostages, almost all of whom are young children and teenagers, were named as follows: Yuli Cunio, three, Emma Cunio, three, Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, Karina Engelbert, 51, Yagil Jacob, 12, Erez Kalderon, 12, Sahar Kalderon, 16, Or Jacob, 16, Yuval Engel, 11, Mika Engel, 18 and Eitan Yahalomi, 12.
But tonight’s fears that Hamas would divide families appear to have been confirmed, as many of the released children were forced to leave their loved ones behind.
One hostage, who has not yet been identified, was seen leaving Hamas custody in a wheelchair, while several others were seen wearing bright pink clothing
Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17, (picture middle) was seen again in the arms of her loved ones after weeks of being taken hostage
Yuli Cunio, three, Emma Cunio, three, and Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, (pictured) were all released today
Sahar Kalderon, 16, was held by Hamas for over seven weeks and was released today under the extended ceasefire agreement
Erez Kalderon, 12, was released today by Hamas terrorists after more than seven weeks of captivity
The Cunio family is still missing their father David after they were all kidnapped from Nir Oz during the Hamas invasion.
Twelve-year-old Eitan will also miss his father Ohad, who is still a Hamas prisoner.
Eitan’s mother, Bat Sheva, previously revealed that motorcycle-riding Hamas militants tried to kidnap her and her children from their home in Nir Oz, but she managed to jump out with her two daughters.
She added that she was terrified that her Manchester City-supporting son might no longer be the same after his seven-week stay as a hostage.
The Kalderon family, which will soon be reunited with 16-year-old Sahar and 12-year-old Erez, is also missing their father, 53-year-old Oher.
It is currently unknown whether the hostages released this evening have ever had contact with other family members also held by Hamas.
All 11 hostages came from the same settlement, Kibbutz Nir Oz, which is just a mile and a half from the Gaza border and had a population of around 400 before the raid
Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9, (pictured) was seen being held in the arms of his loved ones after he and the other hostages arrived back in Israel
Despite the happy scenes, a spokesman for the hostages’ families told Web this evening: “Every single child released this evening will be returned, while their father will be left behind in Hamas captivity in Gaza.”
A spokesman for the hostages’ families told Web this evening: ‘Every single child released this evening will be returned, while their father will be left behind in Hamas captivity in Gaza.’Very hard to swallow.’
All 11 hostages were from the same settlement, Kibbutz Nir Oz. The head of the kibbutz, Osnat Peri, said in a statement this evening: “The news tonight brings a sigh of relief in our community.”
He said that he and his community are still “deeply concerned for our loved ones who are still being held hostage,” adding that of the hostages remaining in Gaza, 49 are from Nir Oz.
Three of the hostages were French, and the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said in a post to X this evening: “Three of our young compatriots are among the group of hostages released today.”
“Very pleased with this announcement.”
Images of Hamas handing over the 11 hostages showed its militants standing in a parade as civilians walked toward a Red Cross van that took them back to Israeli officials.
One hostage, who has not yet been identified, was seen leaving Hamas custody in a wheelchair, while several others were seen wearing bright pink clothing.
Brothers Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9, and Gal Goldstein-Almog, 11, were seen in the company of what spokesman Daniel Hagari described as “an elite IDF unit.”
The brothers were seen in good spirits wearing earmuffs in a convoy that is currently taking them back to Israel
Despite the smiles, many of the released children were forced to leave members of their families behind
Egyptian media have reported that six Thai hostages will also be released alongside the Israelis, although this has not yet been confirmed.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a post this evening
The terms of the ceasefire agreement to halt fighting in the Gaza Strip say it can be extended beyond its original four-day term provided that 10 hostages are released for each additional day and in return three times as many Palestinians are released.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the ceasefire had been extended for two more days, indicating that Hamas intended to release an additional 20 hostages in addition to the 50 hostages scheduled to be released in the first four days.
A White House and Hamas official also confirmed that the agreement had been reached. The Hamas official said conditions were the same as the previous four-day ceasefire, which was due to end at 7 a.m. (5 a.m. GMT) on Tuesday.
The Red Cross was waiting for the hostages for the fourth time in just a few days
Images of Hamas handing over the 11 hostages showed its militants standing in a parade as civilians walked toward a Red Cross van
The deal is understood to have stalled and was on the verge of collapse.
Hamas had accused Israel of reneging on its end of the bargain and Israel threatened to continue its deadly attack on the Gaza Strip.
But mediators were still able to prevent it, resulting in the first public visit by Qatari officials to Israel, according to the AP.
Israeli media reported this afternoon that Hamas had changed its hostage list ahead of today’s exchange, reducing the number of people it would release.
The government said it was “dissatisfied” with the list of hostages to be released as it consisted of children and elderly women – suggesting that more families are to be separated because the children are not being released with their parents.
Israeli media has reported that all eleven hostages released this evening were kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz
While there is now a group of hostages who will be released tomorrow, White House national security spokesman John Kirby reported this evening that the US is “working very, very hard to maintain this flow of hostages.”
He told CNN: “We’re pleased there’s a two-day extension.” [to the temporary truce with Israel]. And we would definitely hope that in the next two days, in the next few episodes, we’ll see some Americans come out.
“But it is difficult to know exactly how Hamas makes these decisions in everyday life.”
“I would like to remind you that the test pilot for this whole program a few weeks ago was two American women, a mother and a daughter, and of course we were able to get Abigail Edan out over the weekend.”
Raz Asher (left), four, her two-year-old sister Aviv (right) and their mother Doron, 34, reunite with their father and husband Yoni at Schneider Children’s Medical Center
Keren Munder, 54, and her son Ohad Munder, 9, with his father and a family member at Schneider Children’s Medical Center. Keren and Ohad were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7th
“It’s promising, but we just have to keep at it.”
UN chief Antonio Guterres said today the agreement was a “moment of hope and humanity amid the darkness of war”.
He said he “strongly hopes” that the extended temporary ceasefire will allow the United Nations’ humanitarian arm to increase aid to Gaza citizens.
But he warned that even with the extra time this would give, it would be “impossible to meet all the dramatic needs of the Gazan population.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also made the comments ahead of a meeting of allied foreign ministers in Brussels.
A group of Israelis celebrate as a helicopter carrying hostages released from the Gaza Strip lands at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center helipad in Petah Tikva, Israel
Six-year-old Emelia Aloni and her mother Danielle reunite with her family at Schneider Children’s Medical Center
“I call for an extension of the pause. “This would allow for much-needed relief for the people of Gaza and the release of more hostages,” he told reporters.
The European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said an extension of the current ceasefire in Gaza was within reach and would allow the international community to work on a political solution to the conflict.
He said the Palestinian Authority must take back control of Gaza from Hamas and offer a “better and more viable” alternative to it.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was determined to destroy Hamas and said his troops would resume their offensive “with all their might” as soon as the ceasefire expires, which they will now do on Thursday unless further agreement is reached.
Today’s releases bring the total number of released Israeli hostages to 74 from around 240 brought to Gaza following the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.