Three Israeli Hostages Set for Release as Gaza Ceasefire Holds
Jerusalem—Israel has announced that three Israeli hostages are scheduled to be released by Hamas on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement currently holding in Gaza. The Prime Minister’s office confirmed receiving the names of the hostages through mediating countries on Friday.
The hostages, abducted during a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, are identified as Ohad Ben Ami, 56, a dual Israeli-German citizen; Eli Sharabi, 52; and Or Levy, 34. According to Israeli media reports, Ben Ami’s wife was also kidnapped but was released after 54 days in captivity as part of a previous hostage deal.
In exchange, Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 18 serving life sentences, 54 serving long sentences, and 111 detained during the recent Israel-Hamas conflict.
This exchange marks the fifth under the current ceasefire agreement. The previous four swaps have resulted in the release of 18 hostages from Gaza and approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
The first 42-day phase of the ceasefire agreement, effective from November 19, stipulates that Hamas will release 33 hostages, while Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Despite challenges, the ceasefire and the hostage-prisoner exchanges—brokered with backing from the United States and mediation by Egypt and Qatar—have thus far held up.
However, concerns have arisen over the potential collapse of the deal following unexpected remarks from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who called for Palestinians to be moved from Gaza and for the enclave to be developed into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Arab states and Palestinian groups have rejected the proposal, criticizing it as amounting to ethnic cleansing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s suggestions, with the defense minister reportedly instructing the military to prepare plans to allow Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza to do so.
Negotiations for a second phase of the agreement began this week, aiming to secure the release of the remaining hostages and to discuss a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, potentially paving the way for an end to the conflict.
The conflict escalated on October 7 when Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent air and ground operations in Gaza have led to the deaths of more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and have caused widespread devastation in the region.
