Hamas has released seven Israeli hostages in Gaza through the Red Cross. There is an atmosphere of joy in Tel Aviv. A total of 20 hostages are planned to be released under the peace agreement.
World Update: After a two-year war between Israel and Hamas, the release of hostages began today. Under US mediation and a peace agreement, Hamas took the first step and handed over seven Israeli hostages to the Israeli army via the Red Cross. Following this process, there is an atmosphere of joy in Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel.
Hamas has announced the release of a total of 20 hostages in the first phase. The list of these 20 hostages has also been released. However, it does not include the names of Nepali citizen Bipin Joshi and Israeli soldier Tamir.
Release of Seven Hostages
According to Israeli media reports, the Red Cross handed over the first seven of the twenty living hostages to the Israeli army in northern Gaza. Upon hearing this news at the hostage square, people celebrated with loud cheers and jubilation. The released hostages include Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
Information on 20 Hostages
Hamas plans to release 20 hostages on Monday. In exchange, Israel will release over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Of the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza, 20 are likely to be alive. These hostages include those abducted from the Nova music festival site and near the kibbutzim.
Abducted from Nova Music Festival Site
Most of the hostages on the release list were abducted from the Nova music festival site near Kibbutz Re'im in southern Israel. This includes 24-year-old Evyatar David and 24-year-old pianist Alon Ohel. The abduction video of 32-year-old Avinatan Or was also seen worldwide.
Many people were also taken hostage from the small communities of the kibbutzim. These include twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, 28, and brothers Ariel Kunio, 28, and David Kunio, 35. Their wife Sharon and daughters were released in November 2023.
Foreign Nationals Also Hostage
Not just civilians, Hamas had also taken Israeli soldiers hostage. Among the seven released hostages are two soldiers, Matan Angrest, 22, and Nimrod Cohen, 20. Their abduction was reported during the fighting on October 7.
Four foreign nationals were also among those held captive by Hamas. Three of them have been declared dead. The deceased foreign nationals include one Tanzanian student and two Thai workers. The whereabouts of Nepali citizen Bipin Joshi are still unknown.
