The organization that advocates for the families of hostages in Gaza expressed joy over the announcement regarding the release of three male hostages, which is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that commenced on Saturday.
Israeli authorities, along with Hamas, confirmed that the hostages—Yarden Bibas, 35; Keith Siegel, 65; and Ofer Kalderon, 54—would be freed in what marks the fourth round of exchanges under the agreed truce that has temporarily halted combat in the region.
The Hostages Families Forum issued a statement on Friday, expressing their relief: “We welcome this joyful news,” they declared. “We bear both a sacred duty and a moral right to reunite all our kin. Our resolve to pursue the safe return of every hostage remains unwavering, until the last one is home.”
Israeli officials indicated that approximately 80 hostages are still being held in Gaza, including three who were taken prior to October 7, 2023. As part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, a total of 33 hostages are expected to be released.
On Thursday, Hamas facilitated the release of eight hostages in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. The presence of armed fighters guiding Israeli hostages through crowds of thousands of spectators led Israeli leaders to momentarily postpone the release of the Palestinian detainees, emphasizing the delicate nature of the ongoing ceasefire.
In other developments, a European Union civilian mission was sent to aid in the process of reopening the Rafah crossing, which is crucial for the exit of Palestinians from Gaza.
Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, announced on X that the mission aims to “support Palestinian border staff and enable the transfer of individuals out of Gaza, including those in need of medical assistance.”
The reopening of this crossing, which has been closed since the onset of Israeli operations in Rafah in May 2024, underscores a significant advancement in the execution of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. According to Palestinian health officials, the first group of patients is expected to depart through Rafah on Saturday.
Additionally, Kallas mentioned that an EU commission along with representatives from the Palestinian Authority plan to meet next week in Rafah to discuss operational protocols for the crossing. Prior to Israeli military control, Rafah served as a crucial exit point for Palestinians during the conflict.
Hamas also disclosed the names of the three hostages who are due to be released, which confirms earlier announcements from Israeli officials.
Yarden Bibas was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, and images captured during his kidnapping suggested he was injured. His wife, Shiri, and their two young children, Ariel and Kfir, were also taken by militants. The youngest among the hostages were these two boys, aged four and under one at the time of their captivity.
The news of Bibas’ imminent release has stirred concerns regarding the fate of his family. Hamas has claimed that both Shiri and the children were killed in an Israeli airstrike, although Israel has not verified this assertion.
Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari recently expressed deep concern over the safety of the mother and her children.
Keith Siegel, who originally hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was also captured from Kibbutz Kfar Aza alongside his wife, Aviva. She was released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023 but has since actively campaigned for Keith’s release and for the others still being held.
Ofer Kalderon, a hostage with dual French-Israeli citizenship, was captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his children and ex-wife, Hadas, who were released in a previous exchange.
In a separate incident, Israeli airstrikes in eastern Lebanon resulted in two fatalities and ten injuries, as reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated they targeted a military site linked to Hezbollah, claiming it housed underground infrastructure for combat equipment production and facilitated crossings from Syria into Lebanon.
Hezbollah has been accused of a ceasefire violation for launching a reconnaissance drone into Israeli territory. According to Lebanese state media, Israel executed four strikes on the Janta border crossing in the Baalbeck region and targeted two additional illicit crossings along the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Hezbollah legislator Ibrahim Moussawi condemned these strikes, labeling them as a “serious violation” and a direct act of aggression, asserting the need for the Lebanese government and military to respond swiftly.
Hezbollah’s operations have historically depended on weapon supplies from Iran, facilitated via Syrian pathways. Following the instability surrounding Syrian President Bashar Assad, Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Kassem, mentioned that the group is exploring new supply routes.
Middle East Update: Families rejoice as three additional male hostages are set to be freed.
