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From NBC News: Hamas has told Israel that eight of 26 Israeli hostages set to be released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire are dead, a Middle Eastern official briefed on the matter told NBC News on Monday.
It is believed to be the first time that the militant group has said exactly how many hostages are dead or alive. Later, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said these numbers matched information gleaned by Israeli intelligence.
The first three Israeli hostages — Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, a dual British citizen — were freed earlier this month in exchange for 90 Palestinian detainees — mostly women and children.
On Saturday, four female Israeli soldiers were released in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks.
The next exchange of hostages for prisoners is scheduled for Saturday, February 1.
It was first announced that the deal stipulated 30 Palestinian prisoners would be released by Israel for each one of the 33 hostages scheduled for release.
However, NBC’s report states that the deal includes the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire’s first phase, which is set to run until early March, includes the release of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The second phase has yet to be fully negotiated.
Hamas has told Israel that eight of 26 Israeli hostages set to be released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire are dead, an official briefed on the matter tells NBC News. https://t.co/MEddoZBBV3
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 27, 2025
According to the Jerusalem Post, one Palestinian prisoner set to be released in the deal last Saturday refused to return to Gaza, choosing to remain in the Israeli prison instead. The Post wrote:
A Palestinian prisoner set to be released on Saturday’s hostage-prisoner exchange refused to board the bus to Gaza, KAN News reported.
Originally, two prisoners – who were being held at Israel’s Ktzi’ot Prison – refused to be released as part of the deal with Hamas. However, one was ultimately persuaded and returned to Gaza, KAN added.
The other, however, remained and was replaced with another prisoner. The prisoner was a senior Fatah official and preferred to stay in prison than return to Gaza, Ynet reported.
A Palestinian prisoner set to be released on Saturday’s hostage-prisoner exchange refused to board the bus to Gaza, KAN News reported.https://t.co/rKifpM6cWU
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) January 26, 2025
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