Israel prepares for hostage return and release of Palestinian terrorists, despite Hamas creating last hurdles

After the Israeli government approved the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas in a rare meeting stretching into the Sabbath on Friday evening, another roadblock appeared the next evening, just hours before the ceasefire was supposed to start.

Under the terms of the agreement, the ceasefire was set to begin on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

Israel was supposed to receive a list in the evening, containing the first three hostages set to be released the next day – which still hadn’t been transmitted by 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.

“We will be unable to move forward with the framework until we receive the list of the hostages who will be released, as was agreed,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in the evening.

“Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible,” he added.

Despite the statement, Netanyahu did not allude to the delay in a televised speech he gave later in the evening, implying that Israel was still convinced the deal would go ahead as planned.

According to Army Radio, the sides agreed on a detailed procedure for how the hostage release is supposed to be carried out. A list naming the hostages set to be released should be transferred by Hamas to the Qatari prime minister on the day before.

Israel’s negotiating team is supposed to review the list before sending it to the Israeli prime minister for approval. Then, Hostage Coordinator Gal Hirsch is supposed to be updated, before informing the families of the hostages, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet prepare to receive the hostages in Gaza and bring them to Israel.

Unlike during the first ceasefire, this time, the hostages will be received by IDF troops within the Gaza Strip after being taken to prearranged locations by the Red Cross.

The IDF will announce when the hostages have been received, and publish another announcement once the freed hostages cross into Israeli territory.

They will first be brought to one of three forward reception complexes established by the IDF on the Gaza border in Zikim, Re’im, and Kerem Shalom.

From there, they will be taken by cars or helicopters to a predetermined hospital, where they will meet their families, and the IDF will publish another statement on their condition.

The army estimates that the whole process will take around two hours.

In preparation for the ceasefire and the hostage release, the army’s Arabic spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee published a map showing the areas where IDF troops remain and which the Gazan population is forbidden from entering.

“In accordance with the agreement, IDF forces continue to stay in various places in the Gaza Strip. Avoid approaching IDF forces in the area. Getting close to the forces puts you at risk,” Adraee stated in Arabic.

“Movement from the south to the north of the Gaza Strip or towards the Netzarim is still dangerous due to IDF activity in the area. When it becomes possible, instructions will be given regarding the safe roads for movement.”

“You are being warned that in the southern Gaza Strip, it is extremely dangerous to approach the Rafah crossing area, the Philadelphi Corridor area, and all concentrations of forces,” Adraee added. “Do not move towards the territory of Israel, and do not approach the buffer zone. Approaching the buffer space is extremely dangerous.”

Meanwhile, Israel media over the weekend also reported the names of 734 Palestinian terrorist who are set to be released in exchange for the 33 Israeli hostages during the 42-day first stage of the agreement.

The list includes numerous terrorists with the blood of multiple victims on their hands, who are set to be exiled either to Gaza or outside the country.

According to a joint statement by the Defense Ministry, the IDF, police and several other authorities, a mechanism was created to personally inform the families of victims when the terrorists involved in the murder of their family members are expected to be released.