Israeli officials reported on Friday that 13 Israeli captives will soon meet Israeli personnel after being taken by the International Red Cross in Gaza to the Rafah border crossing in Egypt.
The Palestinian prisoners slated for release on Friday, were brought to the Ofer prison on the West Bank ahead of their release.
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Israeli officials completed their preparations to receive the 13 hostages to be released from Hamas captivity, expected to be women and children.
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Earphones, toys prepared for the children released from Hamas captivity on Friday
(Photo: IDF)
In the four choppers awaiting their arrival in Egypt, kits containing earphones suibable for children were prepared, to ease their flight home and provide them with some sense of security and quiet.
The children will also be given toys. An IDF medical team that will include two doctors and three combat fighters, will fly with the children.
All those expected to come into contact with the freed hostages were instructed to be especially kind, introduce themselves by name, smile and maintain eye contact but allow the doctors to do their initial evaluation of their medical condition.
In Gaza, IDF forces blocked efforts by many resident in Gaza, to return to the northern areas of the Strip after evacuating to the south amid IDF strikes. According to reports in Gaza, at least two people were killed by IDF fire and 11 others injured when the forces prevented them from entering the northern areas.
Palestinians fleeing after IDF stops movement to the north of Gaza
"Four tankers of fuel and four tankers of cooking gas were transferred from Egypt to UN humanitarian aid organizations in the southern Gaza Strip via the Rafah Crossing," the IDF said. According to media reports some 90 trucks crossed into Gaza with humanitarian aid for the Strip since the morning hours.
A Hamas official said on Friday that Israel will release 39 Palestinians prisoners, among them 24 women and 15 teenaged males, in exchange for 13 hostages due to be freed from the Gaza Strip.
"This is our mission for the return of hostages and we will carry it out the best way we can," said Prison Authority chief Katy Perry. "We are facing long days and will be on high alert to fulfil our mission," she said.
The negotiated 4-day pause in fighting came into effect at 7 a.m. on Friday after rockets targeted Gaza border communities from the early morning hours.
The families of hostages await their return anxiously amid distrust of Hamas. "We are trying to stay strong and hope for the best," Yossi Engel, whose grandson Ofir is not expected to be released, said.
According to the deal, 50 hostages, mostly women and children are to be freed during the ceasefire and 150 Palestinians convicted of terrorism, would be released from prison and allowed to return home.
The IDF said that any violation of the truce would result in a strong response from forces. The ceasfire is also expected to be observed by the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.
On Friday, Israeli officials said that the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, who were guarantors of the hostage deal with Hamas must ensure that the Red Cross be given access to the hostages who would remain imprisoned by Hamas. On Thursday, Egyptian official said that the terrorists refused to allow Red Cross representatives to visit the hostages held in Gaza and was only willing to provide information on their condition, the Qatari owned, UK based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper reported.
According to the report, Hamas considers information about captives a currency that Israel must pay for. Israel said on Wednesday that the Red Cross would be allowed to visit the captives according to the agreement negotiated with the help of Qatar but did not deny that Hamas was now refusing to allow such visits.
In the report, the Egyptian official said that Israeli security officials will await the hostages on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing along with Egyptian officials and representatives of the Red Crescent and the Red Cross. After the Israelis receive the hostages, they would be flown to Israel from the airport at el-Arish.
The families of hostages said they were awaiting the release of the first group of captives on Friday but said they did not trust Hamas to see the deal through.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed also reported that the 23 Thai nationals who were abducted by the Hamas terrorists on October 7, would be released at the request of Iran that had been in contact with the government in Bangkok. Hamas reportedly provided the Thai government with information about their citizens held in Gaza. The report did not say when they would be freed but Thai media said it may come as early as Friday.
The list of hostages to be released on Friday was delivered to the Prime Minister's Office and his appointed liaison to the families of the captives Gal Hirsch, said the all families were informed whether their loved ones would be included among the first group expected to be freed from Hamas captivity on Friday at 4 p.m.
The survivors of the Hamas massacre from Kfar Aza, who are residing in central Israel, heard with great sadness than none of the seven children taken from their community would be among the first to be freed. Among them is Abigail Edan, whose father Roy – a Ynet photographer, was murdered with his wife Smadar, when terrorists infiltrated their home.
Abigail who will be four on Friday, survived and fled to a neighbors' house but was taken by the terrorists from there along with the neighbor and her children. Abigail's siblings who hid during the atrocities, were in the care of their grandparents.
After informing the families who's loved ones were to be included in Friday's release, Hirsch said additional verified information would be published to avoid rumors. He asked that Israeli media outlets not to reveal the names of those who were expected to arrive, until they were physically in the hands of Israel.
The Red Cross said the hostages would be transferred to Egypt through the Rafah crossing and from there to Israel. "We hope the pause in the fighting would contribute to the provision of aid to the entire Gaza Strip," the Red Cross said. Earlier Hamas demanded that the hostages be transported out of Gaza in Egyptian ambulances.
The IDF prepared an area in its Hatzerim airbase in the south, to receive the hostages and carry out initial medical assessments and facilitate calls to their families. If needed, families would be brought to the vicinity of the airbase and be reunited with their loved ones.
The police would be set up to block roads to allow for a swift transport to hospital.
From Hatzerim the hostages would be transported either by air or by road, depending on their condition, to one of the five hospitals already prepared to receive them. In the Soroka Medical Center, which is closest to the Egyptian border in Rafah, a dedicated and secluded area was prepared where arrangements were made for family members to stay close to their released relatives. According to specific medical needs, hostages would be moved to other medical centers. According to the decision of health officials, women would be treated by female doctors and nurses only.
The security services decided that children released would not be interviewed in the initial stage of their return, although Shin Bet operatives were specifically trained in handling such situations. Only adults would be questioned by the Shin Bet to obtain vital intelligence.
Qatar Foreign Ministry said on Thursday afternoon that 13 Israeli hostages would be released by Hamas on Friday at 4 p.m. The ministry spokesperson said the ceasefire will come into effect at 7 a.m. on Friday.
"The first group of 13 civilians will be released from captivity in the Gaza Strip tomorrow at 4 p.m. Other captives will be freed in the course of the days of the ceasefire," the spokesperson said. "Humanitarian aid will begin entering the Strip as soon as the ceasefire is in effect. The aid that will arrive is a fraction of what Gaza needs."
he Hamas military wing confirmed the Qatari statement saying the pause in the fighting will last 4 days as of Friday morning. In that time 50 hostages would be released. "Three Palestinian prisoners will be freed for every Zionist one," Hamas said.
First published: 19:20, 11.23.23