It seems unthinkable that more than 460 days after they were ripped from their homes in Israel, there would still be hostages in Gaza, held by terrorists, but that’s the grim reality.
The fact that we must still show why Hamas is an evil terror group 14 months after the October 7 Massacre and 14 months of their holding 100 hostages, including a baby, shows deep moral decay in our society when crimes are committed against the Jewish people. It is why we must speak up and be the light in the darkness. We must never be silent.
Everyone wants the hostages home now, yet having to make painful concessions to Hamas is an unenviable task the Israeli leadership must confront. We are keeping Israel, its leaders, and the hostages in our prayers.
Over the last 15 months, Hamas has walked away from negotiations numerous times, rejecting any deal. But there is cautious optimism this time the agreement struck this week will hold, with the first hostages set to be released on Sunday.
The hostage deal will begin with the release of three female civilian hostages on the first day of the first phase of the deal. Each subsequent week will start with the release of another group of hostages.
The initial release will begin with the female civilian hostages along with the Bibas children, Ariel and Kfir.
The next group released in the first phase will be female soldiers, followed by the elderly and then those in poor health, with 33 hostages being released in total. It is believed that most of those slated for release are alive.
Among the 33, would be five female Israeli soldiers, each of whom would be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted security prisoners who are serving life sentences.
In the second phase, Hamas would release the remaining living captives, mainly male soldiers, in exchange for more prisoners and the “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza, according to the draft agreement
In a third phase, the bodies of remaining hostages would be returned in exchange for a three-to-five-year reconstruction plan to be carried out in Gaza under international supervision.
At time of publication: