Hamas has said it has 210 of the about 240 hostages taken from Israel during the October 7 atrocities. Islamic Jihad is said to be holding the remaining hostages.
According to the developing deal, Hamas will release at least 50 Israeli hostages, mainly women and children, in exchange for a ceasefire of four days, the release of between 150 and 300 Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of fuel and other goods into Gaza.
Some 12-13 hostages will be released per day as the ceasefire takes effect, the source says, adding that Israel will release women and minor prisoners, with each returning to the city or town where he lived prior to imprisonment, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In a briefing to reporters Tuesday, Israeli negotiation adviser Moty Cristal said that Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, had likely already decided to die as a martyr when he launched the October 7 attack. That did not mean, however, that he would not use negotiations to achieve other goals in the interim.
Cristal emphasized that the main motivation for Israel in the war was freeing the hostages, even if the stated, equal policy goal was ending Hamas as a military threat in the Gaza Strip.
YUGE mistake!
Big mistake!!! Iran is waiting in the wings to deliver huge amount of weapons!!
It’s a trap.. but for whom
Why not every last one?
Why only 50?
It’s a trap!
The big pause...
How many billions is this costing us?
They're actually negotiating with these medieval savages
Bad idea.
Hamas need more fuel to keep their tunnels operating. Otherwise, why would they agree to this ceasefire?
Exactly WHO is Israel negotiating with here?
Someone actually in charge, with the authority, the ability, and the will to release hostages? I'm skeptical.
I'm also skeptical that there are 50 hostages still alive.
Internal political pressure on Netanyahu to get Israeli hostages released.
Horrible, incomprehensible, military mistake.
And, potentially, a deadly political mistake.
This is a damned fool move. Those opposing Israel are not in the least bit honorable or truthful, and they will take advantage of this. I do understand that the lives of the hostages are very important, for them and their families both, but if this move makes Israel look weak then it will invite more such attacks. Israel desperately needs to re-establish its credibility in the Mideast, and taking the IDF’s foot off of Hamas’ throat is not the way to do that.
Maybe they can attack the Houthi asswipes during this ceasefire, just to show the terrorists not to F with Israel?
Assume all hostages are dead and proceed accordingly.
Hard to say whether this is good or bad because we don’t know how many Hamas are left and exactly how much damage has been inflicted on Hamas. But I suspect Israel knows this and they have now had weeks to root them out.
Islam’s proxy can then re-organize, re-arm.
50 for 300??? Now the question is... Will there be 50 hostages still alive?... Most are likely dead already.
The United Nations is already waiting with their ‘humanitarian’ supplies like rocket launchers and anti-tank mortars hidden in trucks with Red Cross symbols on them. This ‘pause’ can help only one group... HAMAS.
All of these soon to be ‘released’ hostages will likely have loved ones still in captivity, so that they will keep their traps shut about the deplorable conditions and tell the media how awesome their captors were to them.
LUNATICS!
Israel really has no choice buteg to make a deal. It is awful the choices she faces, but the World is the way it is. The World is against Israel and the Biden Regime is too.
Release them, track them, then kill them as soon as the ceasefire is over.
They will never be allowed to start the action again if they stop it.
Biden Admin will hold them by the short hairs for ammunition and weapons. They do the deal with Satan…and Satan will have them captured. And make no mistake, this United States government IS Satan.