Israel claims that eight hostages to be released in the first phase of the gas deal are dead

Israel claims that eight of the other 26 hostages to be released from Hamas during the first phase of the fire termination agreement are dead.

Government spokesman David Menser told reporters that Israel has received a list of the Palestinian armed group at night, which provides information on the status of the hostages.

“The Hamas list corresponds to Israeli intelligence, so I can share with you that … Eight were killed by Hamas,” he said, without calling them. “Families are informed of the position of their loved ones.

Seven women have already been released alive in exchange for more than 290 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons since the beginning of the ceasefire on January 19th.

On Sunday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet announced that Hamas had agreed to release civilian woman Arbel Yehud, a wife of soldier Agam Berger and another hostage on Thursday.

Three additional hostages will be released from the group on Saturday, he said.

The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross -border attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

More than 47 310 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the health ministry of the Hamas territory.

Israel claims that 87 of the hostages remain in captivity, 34 of which are considered dead. In addition, there are three Israelis who were abducted before the war, one of which is dead.

One of the hostages that Israel says should be released in the first phase is Or Levi, 34, who attended the NOVA music festival with his wife Einav on October 7, 2023.

The couple, whose son Almog is now three, fled to a roadside bomb after the attack of Hamas armed fighters. Einav was killed in the shelter while OR was abducted and returned to Gaza.

During the weekend on the hostage square in Tel Aviv, the brother of Or, Michael, told the BBC that waiting to hear about the status of the other 26 hostages is like being submerged in “The reality that the devil himself invented some of the evil reality show , which Hamas enjoys. “

He also said he had not received any indication of when the OA would be released and would have what he described as “the end date of this nightmare”.

Michael also said he was afraid that Hamas could still postpone his brother’s release.

“We can’t just be calm and hope for the best. We have to go on. And while he’s not here, I won’t believe it really happened.”

On Saturday, after the release of four women of Israeli soldiers in the second exchange of ceasefire, the Israeli army spokesman said he was “extremely concerned” about the well -being of three hostages – Shiri Bibs, 33, and her two little sons, two, two , and Ariel, five.

Hamas said in November 2023 that they were killed in Israeli air strike. However, the Israeli army did not confirm their death and the Israeli government insists that they were among the 33 hostages transmitted in the first phase.

Negotiations on the second phase – which should lead to the release of other hostages in exchange for more prisoners, complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and “restoration of sustainable tranquility” – must begin on February 4.

The third and final stage will include the restoration of gas, which may take years, and the return of all other bodies of hostages.

The hostage forum and the missing families urges the Israeli government to fulfill all three phases and guarantee the return of each hostage.

“We are not aimed without them all. Our nation needs everyone at home, together. Until the last hostage,” the message said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of the Israeli Army Medical Corps said some of the seven newly liberated hostages had spent “all the time in tunnels underground” in recent months.

“Some of them were alone all the time while they were there,” said Colonel Dr. Avi Banov, according to Reuters. Those who said they were together were in better shape.

The hostages said their attitude had improved in the days before their release, when they were allowed to bathe, change their clothes and received better food, he added.