Israel has released eight of 33 captives listed by Hamas as part of its peace deal with Palestinian Authority, but some of those released are already dead. The next phase of the agreement will see another group of captives freed on Thursday and Saturday. According to Israel’s government spokesman, David Mencer, Hamas has confirmed that 25 others remain alive.
The truce, which began in January after long negotiations, brought an end to nearly two years of intense fighting in Gaza. As part of the first phase of the agreement, Israel will release 33 captives in exchange for over 1,900 Palestinians held by the country. Seven Israeli women and 290 Palestinian prisoners have already been freed since the truce started on October 7, 2023.
On Thursday, two Israeli women, Arbel Yehud and Agam Berger, are set to be released along with a third captive as part of the agreement. However, Yehud was not freed last Saturday due to confusion over the release date. The delay has led to accusations from both sides about breaching the truce and harming captured civilians.
The lifting of the blockade on Gaza has allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in the north. According to United Nations data, more than 200,000 people were seen heading north on Monday morning. Hamas reported a death toll of 47,317 since the truce began, with many bodies found under debris. Hospitals have received nearly 15 new bodies in the past 24 hours, including two additional deaths detected recently despite Israel’s efforts to halt the fighting.
The ongoing conflict has left over 90% of Gaza’s population displaced and thousands injured or killed by Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. This latest phase of the truce marks a significant step forward in a conflict that has deeply affected millions on both sides of the border.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/27/israel-says-8-of-33-on-hamas-list-of-captives-to-be-freed-are-already-dead