Hamas Still Holds 79 Israeli Hostages In Gaza

Illustration - the atmosphere of the release of prisoners of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip. /ANTARA

JERUSALEM - Hamas still have 79 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip after the release of three prisoners on Saturday, according to Israeli media reports.

The Daily Yedioth Ahronoth reports that 20 of the hostages are expected to be released in the first phase of an ongoing ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement.

On Saturday morning, Hamas released three Israeli prisoners, Yarden Bibas (35), Ofer Calderon (54), and Keith Siegel (64), as part of the fourth group in the early stages of the deal.

Bibas and Calderon were released in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, while Siegel was released from Gaza City.

Hamas is still holding 79 hostages, and 20 of them will be released in the coming days as part of the first phase of the agreement, Yedioth Ahronoth wrote.

Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 12 correspondent, Almog Boker, reported that after this first phase ends, Hamas will still detain 59 hostages, including 36 people suspected of having died.

The ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement between Hamas and Israel came into force on January 19, with an initial period of 42 days.

Israel's genocide war has killed more than 47,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 111,000 people since October 7, 2023.

Israel's attacks on Gaza have left more than 11,000 people missing, as well as the massive collapse and humanitarian crisis that claimed the lives of many elderly and children, making it one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

In November last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Authority Leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense authority Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces genocide lawsuits at the International Court over its aggression in the region.