79 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza: Report

JERUSALEM / ANKARA

Hamas continues to hold 79 Israeli hostages in Gaza following the release of three captives on Saturday, according to Israeli media.

The daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that 20 of these hostages are expected to be released in the ongoing first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

On Saturday morning, Hamas released three Israeli captives—Yarden Bibas (35), Ofer Calderon (54), and Keith Siegel (64)—as part of the fourth batch of releases under the initial phase of the deal.

Bibas and Calderon were freed in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, while Siegel was released from Gaza City.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported: “Hamas still holds 79 hostages, and 20 of them are set to be released in the coming days as part of the first phase of the agreement.”

Meanwhile, Almog Boker, a correspondent for Israel’s Channel 12, reported that at the end of this first phase, Hamas would still be holding 59 hostages, including 36 who are presumed dead.

On Jan. 19, a ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel went into effect, initially lasting 42 days.

Israel’s genocidal war has killed more than 47,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured more than 111,000 since Oct. 7, 2023.

The Israeli onslaught on Gaza has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.