KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — On Saturday, Hamas released three male hostages, and in exchange, Israel is set to free dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of a fragile ceasefire agreement that has temporarily halted violence in the Gaza Strip following more than 15 months of conflict.
The hostages, Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, were handed over to Red Cross officials in Khan Younis, while an American-Israeli citizen, Keith Siegel, appeared gaunt and weary when he was released later that morning in Gaza City. All three individuals were taken hostage during the devastating Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the ongoing war.
Saturday’s release events contrasted sharply with previous chaotic occurrences during a hostage release on Thursday when militants struggled to manage the crowd of onlookers. On this occasion, masked and armed militants maintained order as the hostages walked onto a stage, waving to the crowd before being escorted off and handed over to Red Cross representatives.
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, thousands gathered to witness the live broadcasts of the releases on large screens, expressing their support with cheers and signs.
The ceasefire, initiated on January 19, aims to de-escalate what has been the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hamas. This delicate arrangement has held firm for two weeks, allowing fighting to cease and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid into the beleaguered coastal region.
During the first six weeks of the truce, it is anticipated that 33 Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas has informed them that eight of the hostages are either deceased due to the attack on October 7 or have died while in captivity.
Additionally, on Saturday, arrangements were made for wounded Palestinians to be allowed to travel to Egypt through the Rafah crossing. This crossing had been the only exit point for Palestinians during the conflict but was closed by Israel in May. A civilian mission from the European Union began preparations on Friday to facilitate the reopening.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing would signify a significant advance in the first phase of the ceasefire, which includes provisions for the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian assistance to the war-torn area.
The Health Ministry announced that 50 sick and injured children, along with 61 companions, are scheduled for evacuation through this crossing.
Keith Siegel, 65, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza along with his wife, Aviva, who was released previously during the ceasefire and has actively campaigned for the release of her husband and other hostages.
Similarly, the release of Yarden Bibas, age 35, has reignited concerns for his wife Shiri and their two young sons, who were also captured during the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz. A video depicting their abduction showed Shiri cradling her two young boys—Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months old. Kfir, who was the youngest among approximately 250 hostages taken on that tragic day, has come to symbolize the anguish and frustration stemming from the hostage situation in Israel, where the Bibas family’s plight has garnered widespread attention.
Hamas has claimed that Shiri and her children were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but Israel has not verified this, although military officials have expressed serious concerns regarding their status.
Ofer Kalderon, 54, was also among those taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. In Kfar Saba, the family cheered and embraced as they watched him ascend the stage in Khan Younis to be transferred to the Red Cross.
“Ofer is coming home!” they exclaimed, raising their arms in elation.
Ofer Kalderon’s children, Erez and Sahar, had also been abducted but were released during a prior ceasefire in November 2023. Relatives remarked that they were unable to begin healing from their trauma until their father’s return.
“We’re sorry it took so long, Ofer,” said Eyal Kalderon. “Soon we will be a complete family again, and we hope this is the case for other families as well, until the last remains.”
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, expressed solidarity with Kalderon’s family, stating that France “shares in their relief and joy” after enduring 483 days of “unimaginable hell” and affirming the nation’s commitment to continue efforts to secure the release of another French-Israeli hostage still in captivity in Gaza.
The Palestinian prisoners set to be released by Israel include individuals serving long sentences, including life. In November 2023, over 100 hostages were freed during a weeklong ceasefire, while roughly 80 additional hostages remain in Gaza, with at least a third of them believed to be deceased. Israeli authorities report that Hamas has confirmed the deaths of eight of the hostages designated for release during this ongoing ceasefire phase.
Negotiations are expected to commence next week for a second phase of the ceasefire, which will focus on the release of the remaining hostages and potentially extending the truce indefinitely. If no agreement is reached, hostilities could resume as early as March.
Israel maintains its commitment to dismantling Hamas, even as the militant group reaffirmed its control over Gaza shortly after the latest ceasefire began. A key far-right member of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition has called for the continuation of war following the initial phase of the ceasefire.
Hamas has stated it will not consider releasing the remaining hostages unless the conflict ceases and there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
In the onslaught of October 7 that initiated the war, around 1,200 individuals, mainly civilians, lost their lives. In response, it is reported that more than 47,000 Palestinians have perished during Israel’s air and ground offensive, with over half being women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not disclose how many of the deceased were militants.
The Israeli military claims to have killed over 17,000 combatants but has provided no evidence to substantiate this figure, attributing civilian fatalities to Hamas, which they allege operates within populated neighborhoods.
