Hamas announced the names of three Israeli hostages on Friday. He said it will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The series of steps outlined in the ceasefire agreement with Israel is currently held for nearly three weeks.
Hamas Armed Wing spokesman Abu Obeida has identified the three men as Eli Sharabi, 52. Or taxation, 34; Ohad Ben Ami, 56. All three men were accused of in Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, igniting the war in Gaza.
Hamas released three names later than expected, raising concerns that the contract had reached a barrier. By Friday In the evening, Israeli government officials notified the male families that they had received the list.
Since the ceasefire came into effect, several crises have been struck by as both sides accused others of violating the agreement. This time, Israel accused Hamas of not making its name public at the time of the agreement. Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by preventing the delivery of sufficient aid, as outlined by the deal. Israeli officials declined to comment on Hamas' specific claims, but said they were committed to supporting the agreement.
In this first phase of the ceasefire, in the final stage of the 42 days, Hamas promised to release at least 33 hostages in exchange for more than 1,500 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. With the previous three exchanges, about 18 Hostages were released for more than 550 Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinian officials were expected to publish the names of dozens of Palestinian prisoners Israel is due to be released Friday night. Under At least some of the prisoners who are traded, released are subject to life sentences for committing a fatal attack.
The armistice suspended more than a year of devastating war that began with an attack on Israel. There, about 1,200 people were killed, with 250 others being held hostages, mostly civilians. According to the Israeli government, more than 70 prisoners remain in Gaza, with at least 35 people believed to be dead.
In response, Israel launched a campaign against Hamas in Gaza, which killed more than 45,000 people, according to local health officials who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The Palestinians in the enclave have lived through a year of hunger and fear. Many people no longer have a home for them to return to.
Israel and Hamas are both working on negotiations The long end of the battle and the liberation of the remaining living hostages. However, whether both parties can reach such an agreement remains unclear, which would force them to both make painful concessions.
This week, President Trump helped the administration mediate the ceasefire — suggesting that around 2 million Palestinians of Gaza and the US take over the enclave. Some analysts viewed his statement as an effort to start negotiations, while others said his widespread ideas could drive them with torpedoes.
Sharabi, one of the hostages scheduled for release, lived in Bieli, an Israeli community near the Gaza border, which was highlighted by the Hamas attacks. His wife and two daughters were killed in assault. His brother Yossi was also taken hostage in Gaza, where he was killed in an Israeli airstrike, Israeli forces later told his family.
Also from be'eri, Mr. Ben-Ami was held hostage along with his wife, Raz Ben-Ami. She was released along with more than 100 other prisoners of war in November 2023 during a week-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Levi and his wife, Einab Elqayam Levi, left their two-year-old son in care for Levi's parents before heading south to the Nova Music Festival, just a few miles from the Gaza border. During Hamas' attack, the rave became a massacre. More than 300 people have been killed, including Elqayam Levi. Mr Levi, like dozens of other people on the scene, was taken to the Gaza Strip.
