Israel at war: What happened on day 46?

As Israel seems to be on the verge of making a deal with Hamas to return its hostages, the country must take measures to be prepared for their return.

Since the October 7 massacre, Hamas has over 200 hostages being held captive in Gaza. 

One of Israel's top priorities throughout Israel's war against Hamas has been to create a deal to return the hostages back to Israel.  

 "The return of the captives is a sacred mission. We are deeply obligated to it and we deal with this matter every day. We will not cease our efforts until we have completed the mission," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. 

US President Joe Biden expressed optimism about a hostage deal on Tuesday as Israel’s government was set to meet to approve a four-day pause in the Gaza war in exchange for the release of 50 hostages.

“We’re now very close, very close. We could bring some of these hostages home very soon,” Biden told reporters in Washington.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN)

Israel's first step upon hostage return 

As the release of hostages seems to be closer than ever, the bureau in charge of the hostages, captives, and missing people has created an order of operations to be followed once the hostage deal takes place. 

The first order of the procedure calls for the IDF to receive the hostages and have them brought to Israel, where immediate medical treatment will be provided for them. 

The hostages will receive an initial assessment of their condition by medical authorities and will then be transferred to the following leading hospitals across the country: Sheba Medical Center, Sourasky Medical Center, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, and Soroka Medical Center. 

Once the hostages reach the hospitals they will be met by their families who have anxiously been waiting for their return. 

"Right now, how we are living is hard to describe to you", said  Rachel Goldberg, mother of 23-year-old hostage Hersh Polin Goldberg, at a DC rally held last Tuesday for the return of the hostages.

"We hostage families have lived the last 39 days in slow-motion torment. For 38 nights none of us have slept the real sleep of 'the before.' We have third-degree burns on our souls. Our hearts are bruised and seeping with misery."

The condition of the hostages is currently unknown. However, Goldberg continued that "the real souls suffering are those of the hostages."

Hersh Goldberg-Polin (credit: Courtesy)

Government action to be taken 

After initial care, further medical treatment for hostages in additional complexes, approved by the Health Ministry, will provide the hostages with round-the-clock medical care.

Once medical treatment and aid are issued, it is expected that the hostages will later undergo questioning from trained Israel Security Agency investigators.

The final stage of the planned operations is to transfer the former hostages to the care of the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry, under the supervision of the "Director of Hostages, Missing People, and Returnees".

Here they will be accompanied in the process of their rehabilitation. 

Social workers will accompany the hostages immediately after their release from the hospital

A permanent social worker will be attached to each person and family who will take care of all their needs.

Tova Lazaroff contributed to this report

US President Joe Biden expressed optimism about a hostage deal as Israel’s government was set to meet to approve a four day pause in the Gaza war in exchange for the release of 50 hostages.

“We’re now very close, very close. We could bring some of these hostages home very soon,” Biden told reporters in Washington.

“I don’t want to get into the details of the thing, because nothing is done until it’s done, but things are looking good.”

US officials, including Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have been directly involved in efforts to secure the release of over 239 captives, which Hamas seized when it infiltrated southern Israel on October 7.

There are passport holders from 33 countries held in Gaza, including those with US citizenship.

Israel has agreed to a condition laid out by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to halt Israeli UAVs in the Gaza airspace for six hours on each day of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of some of the hostages under Hamas's captivity, according to a Tuesday report by Walla.

The condition's implementation was addressed by an Israeli official who cited statements made by the IDF and Shin Bet, stating that they have intelligence-gathering capabilities even during the ceasefire days. "We will not be blind and we'll know what's happening on the ground," the official said.

The deal for the hostages' release that will be submitted to the government for approval includes the release of 50 Israeli children and women during a four-day ceasefire and includes the possibility of it being extended if Hamas locates additional women and children, with ten freed for each additional day of the ceasefire. 

Total number of hostages freed may reach up to 80

It is estimated that the total of those freed may reach 70-80 women and children if Hamas does locate the hostages, as they claimed they do not know some of their locations.

"Hamas, as far as we are concerned, needs to bring the people back, including from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other elements," said the official, also saying that Hamas should also release additional hostages with foreign citizenship, but not as part of the outline for the release of Israeli women and children.

Israelis demand the release of hostages held in captivity by Hamas, Tel Aviv November 21, 2023 (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

"Hamas, as far as we are concerned, needs to bring the people back, including from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other elements."

Israeli official

The deal to release the hostages has the support of the IDF, Shin Bet, and the Mossad, and includes the release of about 140 security prisoners from Israeli prisons. According to the official, Israel insisted that prisoners convicted of murder not be included in the list of those released. The outline also states that during the days of the ceasefire, Israel will allow more fuel to be brought into the Gaza Strip - however, the official made it clear that this is a relief that will only last during the ceasefire.

The deal to release the hostages was opposed by the Religious Zionist Party and Otzma Yehudit.

South African lawmakers voted on Tuesday in favor of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations until a ceasefire is agreed in its war with Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza.

The resolution is largely symbolic as it will be up to President Cyril Ramaphosa's government whether to implement it; a presidency spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

But Ramaphosa and senior foreign ministry officials have been vocally critical of Israel's leadership during its devastating military campaign against Hamas in the densely populated Gaza Strip, calling on the International Criminal Court to investigate them for potential war crimes.

The Israeli embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Monday, the Israeli ambassador in Pretoria was recalled to Tel Aviv for consultations ahead of the vote, which on Tuesday was resoundingly adopted by a 248-91 margin.

The parliamentary resolution was brought by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party last week when the governing ANC pledged to support what has been a central diplomatic stance for South Africa since Nelson Mandela became the country's first democratically elected president in 1994.

The chief whip of the ANC, Pemmy Majodina, amended the last point of the EFF draft resolution calling for the embassy's closure and diplomatic suspension, to include the words: "... until a ceasefire is agreed to by Israel and Israel commits to binding United Nations-facilitated negotiations whose outcome must be a just, sustainable and lasting peace."

South Africa has backed the Palestinian cause for statehood in Israeli-occupied territories for decades, likening the plight of Palestinians to those of the Black majority during the repressive apartheid-era, a comparison Israel vehemently denies.

The EFF proposed the motion on Thursday in solidarity with the Palestinian people over the Israeli bombardment and invasion of Hamas-ruled Gaza, prompted by a deadly incursion by Hamas militants into Israel on Oct. 7.

Ukraine has successfully completed the rescue efforts for Ukrainian citizens from the Gaza Strip, as well as for Israelis with Ukrainian citizenship who were in the Gaza border area and southern Israel. Over the weekend, Ukraine concluded the rescue of 203 Ukrainians who were trapped in the Gaza Strip at the outset of the conflict. The rescue operation involved numerous parties, including the Egyptian and Israeli authorities, as well as Ukrainian diplomats.

"This operation was exceptionally complex, and I extend my gratitude to the Egyptian and Israeli authorities, and personally to Rabbi Yonatan Markovich," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said of Kyiv's Chief rabbi in a video sent to Israeli media.

In addition to the evacuation of Ukrainians from Gaza, Ukraine also facilitated the safe passage of Israeli citizens with Ukrainian citizenship residing in communities within the Gaza border area and southern Israel. Among the evacuees were primarily children and young people who had recently arrived in Israel without their parents.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hand of Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch at gathering 2 weeks prior to the Jewish New Year (credit: courtesy of Presidential Office)

Zelensky: rescue operation was "highly intricate and sensitive"

Zelensky personally extended his gratitude to Markovich, stating, "The rescue operation was highly intricate and sensitive. Ultimately, more than 200 individuals were rescued. We are also making preparations for the arrival of additional groups of Ukrainians... Ukraine's success in operations like these reaffirms our commitment to our citizens, regardless of their location."

According to a statement on behalf of the rabbi, Markovich, who is also a Chabad emissary in the city, provided invaluable support to the evacuees in adapting and settling in their new surroundings upon their arrival from Ukraine. He maintained continuous contact with them since the onset of the conflict and is recognized as being closely affiliated with the Ukrainian government.

Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that he would allow additional fuel into Gaza in exchange for the hostages captured by Hamas.

"The return of the hostages is the ultimate goal. It must be done in any way possible. These are the overarching goals of this war. Only the ground maneuver led to this conversation. Only pressure and force caused it," he said. "The siege of Gaza is extensive. I am glad that I passed the decision that additional fuel would be let in for the hostages' return as a condition of the deal.

"We decided this from a humanitarian point of view. As soon as there are releases, we will flex the terms. We are paying a price for the hostages. We will continue until we eliminate Sinwar and Hamas."

The IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi spoke with reserve soldiers inside the Gaza Strip on Tuesday operating against Hamas.

"Our maneuver creates better conditions for the return of the hostages, and we will continue with this pressure," he said.

"You're doing an excellent job, you came in here strong and there's very serious damage done to Hamas. There's still a long road ahead, but we are determined to follow this road and bring our achievements to the maximum. That means also to dismantle Hamas - both military and governmental, to create security around the region, and also to return the hostages. All of these things fall in together.

Hamas will release 80 hostages in its ceasefire deal with Israel, Hebrew media reported citing an Israeli official.

This is a developing story.

Jamal Muhammad Haniyeh, the eldest grandson of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday.

This is a developing story.

Bereaved families and survivors of Hamas's October 7 attack have issued a statement on Tuesday stating their opposition to a hostage deal that would include the release of terrorists in a prisoner exchange.

"We know and warn that any terrorist who is released now will return and cause harm in the future. In the Gilad Shalit deal, the perpetrators of the October 7 massacre were released, and there is no reason why the release of the terrorists should be any different this time."

The families and survivors also stated that they are waiting to hear the details of the transaction before any appeal is submitted.