HOPE FOR EMILY
Israel NAMES Emily Hand, 9, among list of potential hostages to be freed from tomorrow after Hamas truce
It is believed about 40 children are being held captive by the terror group since the October 7 assault
ISRAEL has named Emily Hand on their list of dozens of children snatched by Hamas set to be released tomorrow.
The Irish-Israeli nine-year-old will hopefully be returned to her distressed family after the ceasefire deal, which should see the release of 50 hostages, was approved.
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The Israeli prime minister's office today released a partial list of potential names of child hostages to be released by their Hamas captors tomorrow at 10am (local time).
Under the truce deal, a four-day halt in fighting was agreed as well as the release of 50 of the roughly 240 hostages.
Emily Hand's name was among those that will be reportedly returned to Israel after almost seven weeks of being held inside bomb-blitzed Gaza.
She was abducted from bed during a sleepover at a friend's house in Be'eri Kibbutz.
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Her devastated family threw her an emotional birthday party last week, as her dad broke down in tears and said he's praying for the return of his daughter.
Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzouk confirmed that tomorrow's ceasefire will see the release of hostages who mainly hold foreign nationalities.
The IDF said approximately 40 children are believed to be held captive by the terror group since the October 7 massacre.
Under the agreement around 12 hostages are set to be released per day in phases.
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Israeli families welcomed the deal but vowed to fight "until everyone comes back."
Hadas Kalderon whose daughter Sahar, 16, son Erez, 12, and their father, Ofer, were kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz, told the : “We want them all back, I will fight to the end until everyone comes back."
Despite reaching an agreement fighting goes on in Gaza as the IDF said it continues its ground offensive in Gaza before the ceasefire comes into effect.
Earlier this morning it said troops discovered three tunnel shafts where fighters were hiding and destroyed rocket launchers.
After weeks of negotiations through mediator Qatar, the Israeli Prime Minister's cabinet approved the truce today following a near-all-night meeting, in which he told ministers this was a "difficult decision but it's a right decision."
But Benjamin Netanyahu was adamant Israel's mission remains the same and vowed the offensive will continue once the ceasefire expires.
He said: "We are at war and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals.
"To destroy Hamas, return all our hostages and ensure that no entity in Gaza can threaten Israel."
Three US citizens, including a three-year-old Abigail Edan whose parents were killed in the October 7 massacre are expected to be among those released.
Her dad, photojournalist Roy Edan and his wife Smadar were murdered by the terror group but she managed to escape to a neighbour's home.
It is understood Hamas has agreed to release women and children, but not female IDF soldiers they’ve captured.
The lull will be extended by an additional day for every 10 hostages released.
40 children are being held captive by Hamas
- Avigayil Idan, 3
- Ofri 10, Yuval 9
- Uriya Brodetz, 5
- Ariel Bibas, 4
- Kfir Bibas, 10 months
- Emily Hand, 9
- Ohad Mundar, 8
- Hila Rotem, 12
- Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17
- Gal Goldstein-Almog, 11
- Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9
- Ella Elyakim, 8
- Dafna Elyakim 15
- Yagil Yaakov 12
- Or Yaakov 16
- Yuval Engel, 10
- Mika Engel, 18.
- Amit Shani, 16
- Ofir Engel, 17
- Yahel Shoham, 3
- Naveh Shoham, 8
- Noam Avigdori, 12
- Emilia Aloni, 5
- Yuli Cunio, 3
- Emma Cunio, 3
- Eitan Yahalomi, 12
- Sahar Calderon, 16
- Erez, 12, Calderon
- Raz Asher, 4
- Aviv Asher, 2
- Noga Weiss, 18
- Aisha Zaidna, 17
- Mia Lemberg, 17
- Noam Or, 17
- Alma Or, 13
- Liam Or, 18
- Gali Tarshansky, 13
- Yuval Brodutch, 8
- Ofry Brodutch, 10
- Ohad Zachri, 9
In exchange, around 150 Palestinian women and children will be freed from Israeli prisons at a ratio of 3:1, Sky News reports.
Israel has released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who could be released as part of the deal.
The majority are teenagers arrested over the past year for rock-throwing and other minor offences.
Under Israeli law, the public has 24 hours to object to any release.
The agreement states that "immediately after the end of the pause in fighting needed to secure the release of the hostages, fighting will resume in the Gaza Strip in order to destroy the military and organizational capabilities of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and to create the conditions for the return of all the hostages."
Furthermore, humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter all areas of the Gaza Strip.
Aerial surveillance by Israel will halt for four days in the south of the Gaza Strip and for six hours a day for four days in the north.
Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed the deal, saying that "a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons" would be released in exchange for the hostages.
It added that the starting time of the truce "will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension."
Israeli media said the first release of hostages was expected on Thursday.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron welcomed the truce which he described as a "crucial step" and urged both sides to deliver the deal in full.
He said: “This agreement is a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“I urge all parties to ensure the agreement is delivered in full. Of course, we want to see all hostages released immediately and families affected by the horrors of the October 7th terror attack reunited.
“This pause provides an important opportunity to ensure much greater volumes of food, fuel and other life-saving aid can reach Gaza on a sustained basis.
"We have already doubled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and will work closely with the UN to ensure it reaches those who need it.
“The UK will continue to work with all partners in the region to secure the release of all hostages, restore security and reach a long-term political solution which enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace.”
Hamas released a statement welcoming the "humanitarian truce" , but noted that "our hands remain on the trigger."
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IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said Israel is "happy" to see hostages released but this is just "one step forward".
He told : "What we know is that Hamas, given the chance, will probably try to abduct more and kill more and rape more and butcher more."
It comes as the Islamic Jihad announced the death of a 76-year-old hostage - just hours before the agreement was reached.
The woman was identified as Hanna Katzir from Nir Oz who was abducted during Hamas's cross-border killing spree.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed on Telegram: “We previously expressed our willingness to release her for humanitarian reasons, but the enemy was stalling and this led to her death."
About 240 hostages - mostly Israeli civilians - have been held captive in Gaza since Hamas launched its brutal attacks on October 7 that left 1,200 men, women, and children slaughtered.
Four hostages have already been released, one female soldier rescued, and the bodies of two others discovered by Israeli soldiers.
US President Joe Biden also welcomed the deal saying: "Today's deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released."
Netanyahu convened his Cabinet for the vote late on Tuesday.
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The meeting stretched well into the early hours of Wednesday, underscoring the sensitivity of a proposal that would suspend an Israeli offensive against Hamas before it reached its goals.
Ahead of the vote, Netanyahu sought to assure the government ministers that the break was only tactical, vowing to resume the offensive after the truce expires.
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