Hamas to Release Three Israeli Hostages Amid Ceasefire Deal

Hamas has announced the release of three Israeli hostages—Ofer Calderon, Keith Siegel, and Yarden Bibas—scheduled for Saturday. This comes as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, offering a moment of relief amid ongoing conflict.

Hostages Identified

Israeli officials confirmed the three men set to be freed.

Ofer Calderon (54) was kidnapped with his two children, Erez and Sahar, from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. His children were released in a previous ceasefire.
Yarden Bibas (35) was taken separately from his wife and two young children. Hamas claims his wife, Shiri, and their sons, Ariel and Kfir, were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Keith Siegel (65), a U.S. citizen, was kidnapped with his wife, Aviva, from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. She was released in November 2023.

Recent Hostage Releases

Thursday saw the release of three Israeli and five Thai hostages from Gaza. However, their evacuation was chaotic as crowds surged toward them. The released hostages include:

Israeli hostages: Gadi Moses (80) and Arbel Yehoud (29)
Thai hostages: Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao, and Surasak Rumnao

Conflict and Destruction in Gaza

As civilians return to northern Gaza, images from Jabalia reveal the extent of destruction.

Read: Egypt, Jordan Reject Trump’s Call to Resettle Palestinians

International Reactions

Trump’s Proposal: Former U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinian refugees. Both nations rejected this idea. Trump stated, “We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it.”
Global Pressure on Israel: France, Germany, and the UK urged Israel to cooperate with the UN and reconsider its ban on contact with the UN Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA).
UN Concerns: The UN warned that if humanitarian aid stops, the fragile ceasefire could collapse.

Military Strikes and Ceasefire Tensions

Israel struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Syria as tensions rise in the region.
The U.S. military confirmed it killed a senior Al-Qaeda operative in northwest Syria on Thursday.

The Road Ahead

With around 80 hostages still in Gaza, families continue to demand their return. Former hostage Liri Albag, recently released, urged unity, stating, “I will not stop fighting until everyone is home.”

The Rafah border crossing may reopen for Palestinian civilians soon. Meanwhile, global leaders continue to push for long-term solutions to prevent further escalation.