Israel confirms hostage deal back on after Hamas delay

The second phase of the Gaza hostage deal appeared to move forward last Saturday night after a delay of at least five hours after Hamas announced that the deal was on hold.

Close to 9 p.m., Hamas stated that “the Islamic Resistance Movement Hams responded to the estimated Egyptian Qatari efforts that moved throughout the day to ensure the continuation of the temporary armistice agreement after transferring then in the commitment of the occupation to all the conditions stipulated in the agreement.”

It had earlier argued that not enough humanitarian aid had entered Gaza through the Egyptian crossing at Rafah and that Israel had not freed agreed-upon Palestinian prisoners based on seniority.

Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials had worked to save the deal.

IDF spokesman R-Adm. Daniel Hagari on Friday night referred to senior Hamas officials, saying that "they are being followed around in Gaza and around the world."

Regarding the hostages who returned to Israel this evening, he said that "They all underwent an initial medical evaluation at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, and that they are safe.

Soon they will arrive at the Hatzor Airbase where they will contact their families." 
 

Hannah Katzir was one of 13 Israeli hostages returned to Israel from Hamas on Friday evening.

The only surprise: She had been reported dead earlier this week, having allegedly died due to an Israel Air Force airstrike while being held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The report about her apparently untrue demise claimed that she had "medical complications" that resulted in her death.

She was identified as alive a couple of hours after the hostages had been transferred to the Red Cross, which then brought them to Egypt, where they were transferred in turn to Israeli forces. 

Two weeks prior to the false announcement of Katzir's death, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a video of her where she said, "I am in a place that is not mine. I miss home, my children, my husband Rami, and my whole, dear, beloved family.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that rising violence by extremists in the West Bank had to stop.

Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has allegedly increased since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The two-state solution

"We must prevent violence from spreading, and therefore a peaceful co-existence is only possible with the two-state solution," Von der Leyen told a news conference in Canada alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Council President Charles Michel.

"The Palestinian people and the Arab neighbors need the reassurance that there will be no forced displacement but a viable perspective, with an independent Palestinian state – Gaza and West Bank reunited – and governed by a reformed Palestinian authority. And to this end, unacceptable violence by extremists in the West Bank has to stop," she added.

The US embassy in Lebanon on Friday said there had been 12 hours of calm along the Blue Line marking the border with Israel, where daily exchanges of fire had been taking place between the armed terrorist group Hezbollah and Israel.

The frontier had been quiet since early Friday morning, residents said, apart from a small spray of fire from the Israeli side. It followed a temporary truce brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which did not formally extend to Lebanon.

The IDF confirmed it has custody of the 13 hostages released from Hamas on Friday and are accompanying them until their return to their homes.

Another Israeli source stated that the list of the released hostages for the first day corresponds to those who were released via Egypt's Rafah crossing.

The transfer was made in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, Walla reported citing an Israeli official. This was after the IDF had completed its preparations for the reception of 13 hostages who were set to return to Israel on Friday, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. The hostages that crossed into Rafah met with Israeli officials, Walla reported.

First photo of Israeli hostages being released pic.twitter.com/AdBHtwalN3

— Emily Schrader - אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) November 24, 2023

Two elderly women, Adina Moshe and Margalit Mozes, are the first Israeli hostages confirmed to be released by Hamas on Friday.

Moshe, 72, was kidnapped to Gaza on October 7 from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, after the terrorists murdered her husband Said Moshe.

She is the mother of four children: Maya, Yael, Sashon and Amos. She will be back with her family and able to continue raising some of her grandchildren who live in the kibbutz, and will return to her hobbies: cooking, growing plants and reading books.

Margalit Mozes

Mozes is recovering from cancer, and is an avid lover of nature and especially birds. Loves nature and trips, despite her poor health. Last summer she was on a cruise in northern Norway. And the winter, plans to travel to Mozambique.

Margalit loves to knit, knits vests and sweaters for her grandchildren all the time. 

Emilia and Danielle Aloni 

Danielle Aloni and her 6-year-old daughter Emelia were kidnapped on October 7 during their visit in Kibbutz Nir Oz to Danielle's sister, Sharon Aloni-Kunyo (who was kidnapped along with her 3-year-old twins Emma and Yuli, together with their father David Kunyo). 

Danielle sent her last message to her family on October 7 and informed them that they have terrorists at home and she is afraid that they will not survive. Daniel and Amelia are on their way to Israel.

This is a developing story.

Two elderly women, Adina Moshe and Margalit Mozes, are the first Israeli hostages confirmed to be released by Hamas on Friday.

This is a developing story.

National Unity Party leader Minister Benny Gantz arrived on Friday at the Hostages' Square in Tel Aviv, and spoke with families whose relatives are not expected to return in the coming days.

"They are going through a difficult time, while alongside the pain, they demonstrate such strength that could not have been imagined in advance." 

He added that "it was important for me to be with the people whose pain is still ahead of them and whose fear will accompany them."