Israel says 18 of the remaining hostages expected to be released in first phase are alive– www.washingtonexaminer.com
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Excerpt:The Israeli government revealed Monday that eight of the remaining 26 hostages Hamas agreed to release during this phase of the ceasefire have been killed.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a six-week ceasefire earlier this month, and as a condition of the deal, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization promised to release 33 of the roughly 100 hostages it held dating back to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Hamas has already released seven of the hostages.
Of the remaining 26 hostages Hamas has agreed to release in this phase of the ceasefire, 18 are believed to be alive, government spokesman David Mencer said Monday. The next release of hostages, which will include Arbel Yehoud and Agam Berger, will take place Thursday, followed by another three hostages to be released over the weekend.
The 33 hostages Hamas agreed to release are women, children, men aged over 50, and unwell and injured men. Israel agreed to release 30 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons in exchange for one Israeli civilian hostage and 50 for every female Israel Defense Forces soldier.