Official announcements from the Israeli government or Hamas, or reputable news outlets

Israel and Hamas to Exchange 33 Hostages for 2,000 Prisoners in Ceasefire Deal

Jan 17, 2025, 08:55 AM

Israel has released the names of 33 hostages set to be freed by Hamas in the first phase of a ceasefire agreement between the two parties. The hostages include children, women, and five female soldiers, such as Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, as well as Liri Albag, Itzhak Elgarat, and Karina Ariev. The condition of the hostages is not confirmed, but Israel believes that most are alive. The families of the hostages have been informed. The release is expected to take place over the next six weeks, although the exact order is not specified. As part of the deal, Israel will release approximately two thousand Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.