What We Know About Collateral Releases

A cease-fire agreement reached this week between Israel and Hamas triggers the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and its allies in Gaza since the war began more than a year ago.

About 100 dead and alive hostages are believed to have been captured in Gaza. Most of them killed about 1,200 people and captured about 250 during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Under the deal, the remaining 33 hostages will be released during the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, the first major release after the one-week ceasefire. seven weeks until the war. In return, Israel will release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

According to the agreement, the first hostage exchange will begin no later than 16:00 on Sunday. Here’s the other thing we know about how the plan calls for their release.

Who are the hostages released?

Among the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase are living and dead female prisoners, civilian teenage boys and children, men 50 and older, female soldiers, and sick and wounded civilians.

Israeli authorities believe that about 35 of the remaining prisoners in Gaza have died. According to the agreement, the human remains will be released after the surviving hostages are released.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address on Saturday evening that “most” of the 33 hostages to be released under the deal are alive.

How will the release work?

According to the plan, the releases will be phased. On the first day, Hamas will release three surviving female hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. On the seventh day, the four surviving female hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

From the 14th day to 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 in the first phase will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners within the sixth week.

Also in the sixth week, after all 33 hostages were released and returned to Israel, Israel will release 47 prisoners who were re-arrested after their release. In the 2011 agreement More than 1,000 Palestinians were released in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Israeli authorities they built Three reception points along the Gaza border to receive hostages, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with protocol. Israeli soldiers, doctors and psychologists will work at those reception points, the official said.

How many Palestinian prisoners will be released?

Dozens of Palestinians were detained in Israel will be released for each pledge in the first six-week phase, including some are serving life sentences.

The criteria for the exchange of hostages and prisoners are reflected in the agreement. The deal calls for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners, women or children, who are 18 or younger and have a living hostage or Israeli citizen.

A living Israeli citizen aged 50 or over can be released in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners. A surviving female Israeli soldier demands the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners. A total of 110 Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for nine injured or sick Israeli male civilians.

How many hostages have already been released?

At the start of the war, Hamas released four hostages— two Israeli American womenJudith Raanan, then 59, and her daughter, then Natalie Raanan, 17, and two Israeli womenNurit Kuper, then 79, and Yocheved Lifshits, 85, citing humanitarian reasons. More than 100 hostages were released in November 2023 phased ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In return, about 240 Palestinians detained in Israel were released.

In addition to those already released, 8 hostages have been released as a result of Israeli military operations since the start of the war.

How many hostages in Gaza are Americans?

In a speech on Tuesday, Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken said seven Americans were still in captivity. It was believed to be Edan Alexander and Sagui Dekel-Chen alive until December According to the American Jewish Council.

Of the remaining five, several were declared dead early in the war. Their bodies remained in Gaza.

Efrat Livni and Aaron Boxerman contributed to the report.