Hundreds of Israeli hostages were captured during the October 7 attack with Hamas militants kidnapping them and taking them into Gaza where they have remained for 15 months
These are the faces of the Israeli hostages who have been held by Hamas in Gaza who are set to be freed in the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
Palestinians and relatives of hostages held in Gaza met news of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas with tentative joy. The ceasefire will begin on Sunday morning having been agreed upon by officials in Israel and Gaza following 15 months of conflict.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the ceasefire would not go ahead unless Hamas released the names of the hostages, as had been agreed upon during negotiations. He said in a statement: “Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible.”
He has claimed to have the support of incoming President Donald Trump and claimed to have spoken with him on Wednesday. Hamas said it would not release the remaining hostages unless the ceasefire holds and Israel withdraws fully from Gaza.
The conflict began when Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people near the Gaza-Israel border and also took an estimated 250 hostages back following the bloody raid. Israel retaliated, launching strikes into Gaza that Hamas said resulted in the deaths of more than 46,700 people, many of whom were civilians.
Ceasefire plan explained
Under agreed terms, there are three phases to the ceasefire, each consisting of 42 days. The first phase, which begins on Sunday, will see 33 Israeli captives, of whom are children, women, the ill and men over 50, being freed. Israel will then release some 1,900 Palestinians, many of whom are women and children.
The remainder of Israeli hostages, including captive soldiers, will be released with terms being negotiated under the first term. In exchange, Israel will withdraw from Gaza and uphold a permanent ceasefire and release more than 1,000 Palestinians. Details remain somewhat unclear about the third phase, although bodies of the remaining captives will be handed over. A lengthy reconstruction of Gaza will then be carried out under international observation.
Despite the ceasefire negotiations, Israel has launched attacks into Gaza killing dozens. Yemeni Houthi rebels, backed by Israel’s foe Iran, have launched projectiles at Israel – the group said it supports Palestinians in Gaza.
Who Are the 33 Israeli Hostages?
Women and children
Emily Damari, 27, (left), Shiri Bibas, 33, Ariel Bibas, 5, and Kfir Bibas, 2 (right)
Doron Steinbrecher, 31
Romi Gonen, 23
Arbel Yehud, 29, (left) and Danielle Gilboa, 20
Agam Berger, 21
Liri Albag, 19
Karina Ariev, 20
Naama Levy, 19,
Men aged 50 and over
Shlomo Mansour, 86, and Ohad Ben Ami, 58
Itzik Elgarat, 69
Gadi Moshe Mozes, 80
Keith Siegel, 65, (left) and Ohad Yahalomi, 50
Eli Sharabi, 52
Tsahi Idan, 50
Ofer Calderon,54
Oded Lifshitz, 84
Men under 50
Hisham al-Sayed, 36
Omer Shem-Tov, 22, (left) and Tal Shoham, 39
Or Levy, 34
Yarden Bibas, 35
Sasha Trufanov, 27
Eliya Cohen, 27
Omer Wenkert, 22
Yair Horn, 46, (left) and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36
Avera Mengistu, 38
