The Hamas terrorist organization will on Saturday release hostages Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Karina Ariev from captivity, it was cleared for publication on Friday evening.
All four are IDF lookouts who were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip from their base in Nahal Oz during the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023.
“A whole nation fought for them and eagerly awaits their long-awaited return to their families' arms.”
“We have the sacred duty and moral right to bring all our brothers and sisters back home. We will not give up and will not stop at any stage until all the hostages return home within the framework of the current agreement, down to the last hostage - the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for a proper burial in their homeland,” the Headquarters said.
Liri Albag’s family said in a statement on Friday night, "We are extremely excited. Our heart is split because Arbel Yehud and Agam Berger are still left behind. There are still 90 hostages for whom we must do everything."
15 lookouts were murdered at the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7, and seven were kidnapped while still alive. Lookout Noa Marciano, who was kidnapped from the outpost, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while in captivity. Her body was later recovered and returned to Israel. Soldier Ori Megidish, who was also kidnapped from the outpost, was rescued from captivity by security forces 23 days after her abduction.
After four of the lookouts will be released on Saturday, the fifth lookout, Agam Berger, will remain in captivity. In total, there will still be 90 hostages held by Hamas after Saturday’s release.
Earlier on Friday, Hamas handed over to the mediators the list of the four hostages who will be released on Saturday afternoon.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in an official statement, "The list of hostages to be released has been received through the mediators. Israel's response will be provided later."
Diplomatic officials in Israel stated that the list provided by Hamas does not meet the agreement that was signed between the sides.
Israel held consultations after the list of hostages that was transferred by Hamas failed to comply with the agreement, but ultimately informed the mediators that it is preparing to receive the four hostages on the list, despite the fact that Hamas is violating the agreement.
Israel had demanded that Arbel Yehud, a civilian who was abducted on October 7th, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, be included in the list of hostages to be released on Saturday. This is due to the fact that the agreement stipulates that civilians are to be released first, before soldiers are released.
Hamas had refused to commit to her release or to provide Israel with information about Yehud’s condition, claiming that she is being held by terrorists from the Islamic Jihad. On Friday evening, according to Channel 12 News, Hamas claimed that Yehud’s remaining in captivity is a “technical issue”.
Israeli officials said that the release of the four hostages will take place at an earlier hour than the release of the three hostages this past Sunday.
Hamas said the hostage release would take place on Saturday afternoon between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Israeli officials said the four hostages are expected to be released by 4:00 p.m.
The Ministry of Health updated that the hostages expected to be released will, after an initial medical evaluation, arrive at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. In accordance with the procedures of the Ministry of Health procedures, Barzilai and Soroka hospitals will also be prepared to provide care as needed.
"The medical teams and professional staff in the hospitals are ready to receive them and provide medical treatment and any other necessary care," the Ministry of Health said.
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)