Hamas is set to release a fifth group of Israeli hostages on Shabbos as part of the ongoing ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. However, the plan’s future remains uncertain, with President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza further complicating matters and casting doubt on whether the multi-phase agreement will be maintained. A list of the three hostages to be freed is anticipated to arrive in Israel by 4 p.m. on Friday.
Channel 12 news reported that Israel is putting pressure on mediators to ensure the release of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel (4) and Kfir (2). Hamas has breached the terms of the deal by releasing female soldiers and male civilians before releasing the children and their mother. Israel has expressed “grave concern” for their safety. Yarden Bibas, the children’s father, was released last Shabbos.
A Hamas official, quoted by the network, stated that the group intends to observe how Trump’s plan to “take over” the Gaza Strip unfolds before making decisions regarding the continuation of the deal. The official added that it is unlikely Hamas will obstruct the remaining parts of the first phase, including the scheduled release of hostages on Shabbos.
On Thursday, the Israeli government approved a list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed in exchange for hostages. However, three names were removed from the list at the last moment, including Mahmoud Atallah, a convicted terrorist accused of raping a prison guard. He was replaced by another security prisoner with a similar name, as reported by the Yisroel Hayom newspaper.
Israel has stated that it plans to release up to 1,904 Palestinian prisoners, including 737 serving life sentences for numerous murders, in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages during the first phase of the deal. To date, 13 Israelis have been freed, alongside five Thai hostages who were released outside of the deal’s framework.
Although negotiations for the second phase were initially slated to begin on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has delayed sending a negotiating team, reportedly until his return from Washington next week.
A team at a working level, led by the outgoing deputy director of Shin Bet, known by the Hebrew initial “Mem,” is expected to arrive in Doha over the weekend. However, this team is authorized to only discuss the first phase of the deal, not the second, according to Channel 12. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s spokesperson denied reports that the prime minister presented a plan to end the fighting in Gaza during his visit to Washington, a crucial component for the second phase, but one that is considered a nonstarter for the right wing of Netanyahu’s coalition.
The postponement of discussions on the second phase has caused significant anxiety among the families of male hostages under 50 years old, who are not expected to be released until phases two and three.
{Matzav.com Israel}
I wanted to share with everyone a good legal trick how to get all the hostages home ASAP.
Rav Zev Smith said that he is 100% confident that the following prayer, Hashem will accept it:
We can tell Hashem that we need Parnassa and good health because we want to add a lot of Kedusha into this world, we want to add a lot of light into this dark part of the world, we want to add a lot of
קדושת עיניים
Hashem sends Parnassa and good health even without this Tefilla, but this Tefilla will help us to get the Parnassa and good health much quicker.
We can ask Hashem to free all the hostages ASAP because it is very obvious that these hostages are for sure in the direction of being very special people and they are getting closer to Hashem and they will for sure be a light in this dark w orld and also they will definitely add Kedusha into this world, so Hashem please return them ASAP.