Israel Confirms 8 Hostages Killed by Hamas as Truce Deal Unfolds
Israel has confirmed that eight of the remaining 26 hostages scheduled for release under the first phase of the Gaza truce deal have been killed by Hamas. David Mencer, a spokesperson for Israel, shared this information, noting that Hamas had provided a list of hostages overnight. Israeli intelligence verified that the names of the deceased aligned with this list. Mencer emphasized that the families of those killed have been informed.
The release of the remaining hostages is part of a truce agreement reached earlier this month after months of failed negotiations. The deal, effective from January 19, followed over 15 months of devastating conflict that began with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack, carried out by Hamas fighters crossing into southern Israel, resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 hostages.
Under the agreement, Hamas committed to releasing 33 hostages during the initial phase in exchange for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. To date, seven Israeli women have been freed in exchange for 290 Palestinian prisoners, according to official sources.
A key figure in the ongoing negotiations is 29-year-old civilian Arbel Yehud, who was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack. Her release has become pivotal, with Israel conditioning the return of displaced Gazans to their homes in the north on her freedom. Hamas has agreed to release her, along with female soldier Agam Berger and another unidentified hostage, on Thursday. This assurance has led to the reopening of movement for Palestinians, allowing thousands to begin returning to northern Gaza.
The conflict has inflicted a heavy toll on Gaza, with more than 47,310 deaths reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry since the start of Israel’s extensive military campaign. Despite the ongoing truce, the humanitarian crisis remains dire, as families in Gaza and Israel await the outcome of these complex negotiations.
This delicate and harrowing hostage exchange underscores the immense human cost of the ongoing conflict, drawing the world’s attention to the need for sustained efforts toward peace and reconciliation.
