The cease-fire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas this week sets in motion the release of dozens of hostages that Hamas and its allies have been holding in Gaza since the start of the war more than a year ago.
About 100 hostages, living and dead, are thought to be held captive in Gaza, most of whom were seized when Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and capturing about 250. According to the deal, 33 of those remaining hostages will be released during an initial six-week phase of the cease-fire, the first major release since a weeklong truce seven weeks into the war. In exchange, Israel will release more than 1,000 imprisoned Palestinians.
The first hostage-for-prisoner swap will begin no earlier than 4 p.m. on Sunday, according to the deal. Here is what else we know about how the plan foresees their release.
Who are the hostages being released?
The 33 hostages who will be released in the first phase include female captives who are alive and dead, civilian teenage boys and children, men 50 and older, female soldiers and sick and wounded civilians.
Israeli authorities believe that around 35 of the remaining captives in Gaza are dead. According to the agreement, human remains will be released after hostages who are alive have been freed.
In a televised address on Saturday evening, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said “most” of the 33 hostages who will be freed under the agreement are alive.
How will the release work?
The releases will be staggered, according to the plan. On the first day, Hamas will release three female hostages who are alive in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. On the seventh day, four female hostages who are alive will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
From the 14th day through the fifth week of the agreement, Palestinian prisoners will be released every seven days in exchange for three male and female hostages.
The remaining hostages agreed to in the first phase will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during the sixth week.
Also during the sixth week, once all 33 hostages have been freed and returned to Israel, Israel will release 47 prisoners who were rearrested after being released in a 2011 deal that saw over 1,000 Palestinians freed in exchange for a captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.
Israeli authorities have established three reception points to receive the hostages along the Gaza border, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with protocol. Those reception points will be staffed by Israeli soldiers, doctors and psychologists, said the official.
How many Palestinian prisoners will be freed?
Dozens of Palestinians held in Israel will be released for each hostage in the initial six week phase, including some serving life sentences.
The deal outlines the criteria of the hostage-for-prisoner swap. According to the agreement, the release of a hostage or Israeli civilian who is 18 or younger and is alive requires the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners who are women or children.
An Israeli civilian man who is 50 or older and is alive can be freed in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners. An Israeli female soldier who is alive requires the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners. A total of 110 Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for nine Israeli male civilians who are wounded or sick.
How many hostages have already been released?
Early in the war, Hamas released four hostages — two Israeli-American women, Judith Raanan, then 59, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, then 17, and two Israeli women, Nurit Cooper, then 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, then 85, citing humanitarian reasons. More than 100 hostages were freed in November 2023 during a staggered truce between Israel and Hamas. In exchange, about 240 Palestinians held in Israel were released.
In addition to those who have already been released, eight hostages have been freed in Israeli military operations since the start of the war.
How many hostages left in Gaza are Americans?
In a speech on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said seven Americans were still being held captive. Edan Alexander and Sagui Dekel-Chen were believed to be alive as of December, according to the American Jewish Council.
A few of the remaining five were declared dead early in the war. Their bodies remain in Gaza.
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