Hamas has revealed that only 25 of the 33 hostages it planned to release are still alive as hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians return to their homes in Gaza . Eight of the hostages due for release in the first phase of a truce deal between Israel and Hamas are dead, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said Monday, after receiving a list from the Palestinian militant group. ‘The families have been informed of the situation of their relatives,’ Mencer told reporters. This means that of the 26 hostages yet to be freed under the first phase of the agreement, only 18 are still alive. Seven living hostages have been freed since the deal began on January 19.

Israel has said the next release, of three hostages - including Arbel Yehoud and Agam Berger - will take place on Thursday, followed by another three hostages to be released on Saturday. The 33 names on the list are women, the Bibas family children, men aged over 50, and unwell and injured men. Whether hostages were alive or dead inside Gaza has been a heartbreaking question for waiting families who have pushed Israel's government to reach a deal to free them, fearing that time was running out. Around 90 hostages are still being held, and Israeli authorities believe between a third and a half of them were killed in the initial attack or died in captivity.

Israel has said the next release, of three hostages – including Arbel Yehoud and Agam Berger – will take place on Thursday, followed by another three hostages to be released on Saturday. The 33 names on the list are women, the Bibas family children, men aged over 50, and unwell and injured men. Whether hostages were alive or dead inside Gaza has been a heartbreaking question for waiting families who have pushed Israel’s government to reach a deal to free them, fearing that time was running out. Around 90 hostages are still being held, and Israeli authorities believe between a third and a half of them were killed in the initial attack or died in captivity.

It comes after an Israeli general revealed Monday that some of the hostages released from Gaza so far during the ceasefire had been held in Hamas tunnels for up to eight months straight, deprived of daylight and with little to no human contact. Three Israeli civilians and four soldiers - all women - have been released so far in the ceasefire, and in return, Israel has released 290 Palestinian convicts and detainees. 'Some of them told us that they've been in the past few months, that they've been through the entire time, in tunnels, underground,' deputy chief of the Israeli military's medical corps, Colonel Dr. Avi Banov, told journalists online. 'Some of them were alone through the entire time they were there,' he said.

It comes after an Israeli general revealed Monday that some of the hostages released from Gaza so far during the ceasefire had been held in Hamas tunnels for up to eight months straight, deprived of daylight and with little to no human contact. Three Israeli civilians and four soldiers – all women – have been released so far in the ceasefire, and in return, Israel has released 290 Palestinian convicts and detainees. ‘Some of them told us that they’ve been in the past few months, that they’ve been through the entire time, in tunnels, underground,’ deputy chief of the Israeli military’s medical corps, Colonel Dr. Avi Banov, told journalists online. ‘Some of them were alone through the entire time they were there,’ he said.

'Those who said they were together were in better shape.' The hostages said their treatment improved in the days leading up to their release, Banov said, when they were allowed to shower, change their clothes and received better food. They appeared to be in good condition and smiling in videos on the days of their release. Citing the hostages' privacy, Banov would not say whether any of the seven bore signs of torture or abuse. Some had not received proper treatment for wounds sustained when they were captured during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and some showed signs of 'mild starvation', Banov said.

‘Those who said they were together were in better shape.’ The hostages said their treatment improved in the days leading up to their release, Banov said, when they were allowed to shower, change their clothes and received better food. They appeared to be in good condition and smiling in videos on the days of their release. Citing the hostages’ privacy, Banov would not say whether any of the seven bore signs of torture or abuse. Some had not received proper treatment for wounds sustained when they were captured during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and some showed signs of ‘mild starvation’, Banov said.

The ceasefire reached earlier this month after more than a year of negotiations is aimed at ending the 15-month war, which was triggered by the initial 2023 Hamas attack, as well as freeing hostages still held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The first phase of the ceasefire runs until early March, but the second and far more difficult phase has yet to be negotiated. Talks on phase two are set to begin next Monday. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without an end to the war, while Israel has threatened to resume its offensive until Hamas is destroyed. The hostage releases comes as some 200,000 Palestinians streamed into Gaza's most heavily destroyed area on Monday under the fragile ceasefire after Israel opened the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas.

The ceasefire reached earlier this month after more than a year of negotiations is aimed at ending the 15-month war, which was triggered by the initial 2023 Hamas attack, as well as freeing hostages still held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The first phase of the ceasefire runs until early March, but the second and far more difficult phase has yet to be negotiated. Talks on phase two are set to begin next Monday. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without an end to the war, while Israel has threatened to resume its offensive until Hamas is destroyed. The hostage releases comes as some 200,000 Palestinians streamed into Gaza’s most heavily destroyed area on Monday under the fragile ceasefire after Israel opened the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas.

Massive crowds of Palestinians, some holding babies or pushing wheelchairs, walked with their belongings along a seaside road in a dramatic reversal of the mass exodus from the north that many had feared Israel would make permanent. Footage also showed people still moving northward eight hours after the crossing opened. They were watched over by Israeli tanks on a nearby hill. Palestinians who have been sheltering in squalid tent camps and schools-turned-shelters are eager to return to their homes - even though they are likely damaged or destroyed. Yasmin Abu Amshah, a mother of three, said she walked 6 kilometers to reach her home in Gaza City, where she found it damaged but habitable. She also saw her younger sister for the first time in over a year.

Massive crowds of Palestinians, some holding babies or pushing wheelchairs, walked with their belongings along a seaside road in a dramatic reversal of the mass exodus from the north that many had feared Israel would make permanent. Footage also showed people still moving northward eight hours after the crossing opened. They were watched over by Israeli tanks on a nearby hill. Palestinians who have been sheltering in squalid tent camps and schools-turned-shelters are eager to return to their homes – even though they are likely damaged or destroyed. Yasmin Abu Amshah, a mother of three, said she walked 6 kilometers to reach her home in Gaza City, where she found it damaged but habitable. She also saw her younger sister for the first time in over a year.

'It was a long trip, but a happy one,' she said. Ismail Abu Matter, a father of four who waited for three days near the crossing point before moving into northern Gaza, described scenes of jubilation on the other side, with people singing, praying and crying as they were reunited with relatives. 'It's the joy of return,' said Abu Matter, whose relatives were among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding its creation. 'We had thought we wouldn't return, like our ancestors.' The opening was delayed for two days over a dispute between Hamas and Israel, which said the militant group changed the order of the hostages it released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

‘It was a long trip, but a happy one,’ she said. Ismail Abu Matter, a father of four who waited for three days near the crossing point before moving into northern Gaza, described scenes of jubilation on the other side, with people singing, praying and crying as they were reunited with relatives. ‘It’s the joy of return,’ said Abu Matter, whose relatives were among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding its creation. ‘We had thought we wouldn’t return, like our ancestors.’ The opening was delayed for two days over a dispute between Hamas and Israel, which said the militant group changed the order of the hostages it released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Local medical officials said Israeli forces opened fire at the waiting crowd and killed several Palestinians over the weekend. Israel's military said it fired warning shots at approaching groups it deemed a threat. Hamas said the return was 'a victory for our people, and a declaration of failure and defeat for the (Israeli) occupation and transfer plans.' In the opening days of the war, Israel ordered the evacuation of the north and sealed it off shortly after ground troops moved in. Around a million people fled to the south in October 2023, while hundreds of thousands remained in the north, which had some of the heaviest fighting and the worst destruction of the war.

Local medical officials said Israeli forces opened fire at the waiting crowd and killed several Palestinians over the weekend. Israel’s military said it fired warning shots at approaching groups it deemed a threat. Hamas said the return was ‘a victory for our people, and a declaration of failure and defeat for the (Israeli) occupation and transfer plans.’ In the opening days of the war, Israel ordered the evacuation of the north and sealed it off shortly after ground troops moved in. Around a million people fled to the south in October 2023, while hundreds of thousands remained in the north, which had some of the heaviest fighting and the worst destruction of the war.

In all, around 90 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced. Palestinians were crossing on foot without inspection through part of the Netzarim corridor, a military zone bisecting the territory just south of Gaza City that Israel carved out early in the war. A checkpoint for vehicles opened later on Gaza's main north-south highway, where traffic was backed up for around 3 kilometers. Under the ceasefire agreement, vehicles are to be inspected for weapons before entering the north, but the mechanism for that was not immediately clear. Israel had delayed the opening of the crossing, which was supposed to happen over the weekend, saying it would not allow Palestinians north until a female civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, was released.

In all, around 90 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced. Palestinians were crossing on foot without inspection through part of the Netzarim corridor, a military zone bisecting the territory just south of Gaza City that Israel carved out early in the war. A checkpoint for vehicles opened later on Gaza’s main north-south highway, where traffic was backed up for around 3 kilometers. Under the ceasefire agreement, vehicles are to be inspected for weapons before entering the north, but the mechanism for that was not immediately clear. Israel had delayed the opening of the crossing, which was supposed to happen over the weekend, saying it would not allow Palestinians north until a female civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, was released.

Israel said she should have been released before four young female soldiers who were freed on Saturday. Israel also accused Hamas of failing to provide information on hostages to be freed. Hamas in turn accused Israel of violating the agreement by not opening the crossing. Defense Minister Israel Katz said anyone violating the ceasefire or threatening Israeli forces 'will bear the full cost.' Israel's military has warned Palestinians not to approach its forces, which have withdrawn to buffer zones inside Gaza.

Israel said she should have been released before four young female soldiers who were freed on Saturday. Israel also accused Hamas of failing to provide information on hostages to be freed. Hamas in turn accused Israel of violating the agreement by not opening the crossing. Defense Minister Israel Katz said anyone violating the ceasefire or threatening Israeli forces ‘will bear the full cost.’ Israel’s military has warned Palestinians not to approach its forces, which have withdrawn to buffer zones inside Gaza.

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