This time, everything went off without a hitch. On the third day of the truce in the fighting in Gaza, 17 hostages were freed by Hamas and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Among them are 14 Israelis: 9 children and 4 women and one man, according to reports in the Israeli press and the Forum of Hostage Families. The man also holds Russian citizenship and was released under an agreement between Hamas and Moscow. Three Thais were also released on Sunday.
40 Israeli hostages have been freed by Hamas since Friday, out of the 50 or so provided for in the truce agreement with Israel that extends until Monday. This brings to 58 the total number of hostages freed since Friday, including 18, the vast majority of whom are Thais, who are not affected by the agreement. At the same time, 39 new Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel, a similar number to Friday and Saturday.
While the identities of the foreign hostages have not been released, those of the Israeli hostages are well known.
- Abigail Idan (4 years old)
In spite of itself, it represents the barbarity of the events of 7 October. Kidnapped near Kibbutz Kfar Gaza, the 4-year-old girl celebrated her birthday while held hostage in the Gaza Strip. Both of his parents were murdered in the Hamas attack. His two older brothers survived, hiding in a closet.
To escape the terrorists, Abigal decides to flee her parents' home. She eventually took refuge in the Brodetz family's home, with whom she was kidnapped.
Abigail Idan is a dual citizen of Israel and the United States. "She's free and she's in Israel," US President Joe Biden said Sunday night.
- Hagar (39 years old), Ofri (10 years old), Yuval (8 years old) and Oriya (4 <>/<> years old) Brodetz
A mother and her three children. The entire Brodetz family was released on Sunday, while Father Avihai had not been captured. Hagar, Ofri, Yuval and Oriya are all from Kibbutz Kfar Gaza from where they were abducted. Hagar (39) moved there nine years ago with her husband, a farmer. She is a rock fan and is described as having a "captivating sense of humor."
At 10 years old, Ofri is the eldest of Hagar's three children. She celebrated her birthday on October 8, the day after her abduction. A fan of guitar and rollerblading, she plays on the Kfar Gaza football team. His little brother Yuval (8 years old) also plays football. He also enjoys Lego and "playing Xbox (a video game console)," according to the Hostage Families Forum. Oriya is four and a half years old and a Paris Saint-Germain fan. He loves to play "with toy tractors in the garden" and play football.
- Chen (48 years old), Agam (17 years old), Gal (11 years old) and Tal (8 years old) Goldstein-Almog
The Goldstein-Almog familyhas also been released. Mother Chen (48) is a social worker. She had been in a relationship with Nadav, the father of her children, since she was 14 years old. He was murdered – along with their eldest daughter Yam – on 7 October. Chen was abducted along with her three children from Kibbutz Kfar Gaza.
Agam, 17, will be celebrating his 18th birthday in January. She is in her final year of high school. His two younger brothers Gal (11) and Tal (8) are basketball fans. Tal will be 9 years old next month.
- Adrian Aviva Siegel (63 years old)
Adrian Aviva Siegel (63) also lived on this kibbutz in Kfar Gaza. A former teacher, she loves to cook. According to The Times of Israel, her husband Keith was kidnapped at the same time as her. He has not yet been released. Both have four children and five grandchildren. The Times of Israel reports that she is also a South African citizen and that her husband is American.
Aviva Adrienne Siegel, 62. Reuters/Hostage Families Forum
- Dafna (15 years old) and Ella (8 years old) Elikim
Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8, Elikim were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was hit hard by the October 7 attack. Dafna "loves to sing" and "make videos on TikTok." Her little sister enjoys painting and dancing.
- Alma Avraham (84 years old)
Alva Avraham (84) was at home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz when she was forcibly taken to the Gaza Strip. She enjoys paintings and ceramics.
According to reports, she was taken to a hospital as soon as she left the Gaza Strip.
The Elderly Israeli Woman who was Airlifted directly from Northern Gaza in Serious Condition after she was Handed-Over by the Red Cross has been identified as 84 y/o Alma Avraham. pic.twitter.com/eHbu3BSMzS
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 26, 2023
- Roni Krivoi (25 years old)
He had been kidnapped during the "Tribe of Nova" festival in Reim where he worked. Roni Krivoi (25) loves music and travelling. In this photo, he crosses the border between the Gaze Strip and Egypt in a Red Cross vehicle. Also a Russian national, he was released under an agreement with Moscow.
Hostage Roni Krivoi, 25, arrives at the Rafah border to be released, in the southern Gaza Strip, on November 26, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Late Sunday afternoon, a source close to Hamas said the terror movement was ready to extend the truce for "two to four days." This would mean that between 20 and 40 additional hostages could be released.