A cease-fire agreement reached this week between Israel and Hamas triggers the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and its allies in Gaza since the war began more than a year ago.
About 100 dead and alive hostages are believed to be held in Gaza. Most of them were captured during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that left nearly 1,200 dead and 250 hostages.
Under the deal, 33 of the remaining hostages will be released during an initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, with the first major release following a one-week ceasefire in November 2023. In return, Israel will release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
According to the agreement, the first hostage exchange will begin no later than 16:00 on Sunday. What else do we know about how the plan envisions their release?
Who are the hostages released?
Among the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase are female soldiers and civilians, children, men over 50, and sick and injured “humanitarian” cases.
Hostages that fit this profile include young female soldiers kidnapped from a military base; elderly men dragged from border villages near the Gaza Strip; and two young children, one of whom was less than a year old at the time of the Hamas-led attack.
Israeli officials estimate that about 35 of the remaining prisoners in Gaza have died. But the fact that the prisoners have been kept incommunicado for more than a year makes it difficult to assess their situation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised speech on Saturday evening that “most” of the 33 hostages to be released under the deal are believed to be alive. Under the deal, the live hostages will be released first, after which Hamas will send the bodies in the sixth and final week of the initial ceasefire.
How will the release work?
According to the plan, the releases will be phased. On the first day, Hamas will release three hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The four female hostages living on the seventh day will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
From the 14th day to the fifth week of the agreement, Palestinian prisoners will be released every seven days in exchange for three male and female hostages.
The remaining hostages agreed in the first phase will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners within the sixth week.
Also in the sixth week, after all 33 hostages were released and returned to Israel, Israel will release 47 prisoners who were re-arrested after their release. In the 2011 agreement More than 1,000 Palestinians were released in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Israeli authorities they built Three reception points along the Gaza border to receive hostages, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with protocol. Israeli soldiers, doctors and psychologists will work at those reception points, the official said.
How many Palestinian prisoners will be released?
More than 1,000 — meaning the initial deal, if completed, would make it one of the largest prisoner exchanges in Israel's history.
Dozens of Palestinians were detained in Israel will be released for each pledge in the first six-week phase, including some are serving life sentences.
The criteria for the exchange of hostages and prisoners are reflected in the agreement. The deal requires the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners who are women or minors in exchange for the release of a female hostage or civilian under the age of 18.
Both sides will exchange every living Israeli citizen aged 50 or over for 30 Palestinian prisoners. A surviving female Israeli soldier demands the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners. A total of 110 Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for nine injured or sick Israeli civilians.
Israel will also release about 1,000 Gazans detained during the war in October 2023 on the condition that they do not participate in a Hamas-led offensive.
How many hostages have already been released?
In November 2023, about 105 hostages, mostly women and children, were released a week's truce between Israel and Hamas. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian women and juvenile prisoners in Israeli prisons.
At the start of the war, Hamas unilaterally released four hostages— two Israeli American women and two Israeli women. Israel also managed to free eight hostages in military operations, at least one of which was accompanied by devastating bombings and high Palestinian casualties.
According to the Israeli government, the bodies of another 35 people were returned to Israel in various operations during the war.
How many hostages in Gaza are Americans?
In a speech on Tuesday, Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken said seven Americans were still in captivity. It was believed to be Edan Alexander and Sagui Dekel-Chen alive until December According to the American Jewish Committee.
Of the remaining five, several were declared dead early in the war. Their bodies remained in Gaza.
Efrat Livni contributed to the report.