Israel has claimed that Hamas has brought its latest hostage into the IDF’s line of fire, hours after receiving the terror group’s fourth batch of hostages last night.
An IDF spokesman claimed today that Hamas had handed over 10-month-old Kfir Bibas to a separate Palestinian terror group in the southern city of Khan Younis.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Col. Avihai Adrei said, according to one
Baby Kfir had just learned to walk when he was abducted from his family home on Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his four-year-old brother Ariel and his 32-year-old mother Shiri during the Hamas invasion on October 7.
During the deadly attack on Israel, Shiri, her husband Yarden, 34, and the two boys desperately hid in a safe room armed only with a pistol, only to be brought out when Hamas gunmen broke down their door.
Baby Kfir (pictured) had just learned to walk when he was taken from his family home on Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his four-year-old brother Ariel and his 32-year-old mother Shiri
Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17, (picture middle) was seen again in the arms of her loved ones after weeks of being taken hostage
One hostage, who has not yet been identified, was seen leaving Hamas custody in a wheelchair, while several others were seen wearing bright pink clothing
Yuli Cunio, three, Emma Cunio, three, and Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, (pictured) were all released today
Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9, (pictured) was seen being held in the arms of his loved ones after he and the other hostages arrived back in Israel
The image of the two little boys carried by their crying mother Shiri as they marched from their homes was one of the most powerful published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war
The image of the two little boys carried by their crying mother Shiri as they marched from their homes was one of the most powerful published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war.
Yarden’s fate is unknown and he is believed to be either dead or one of the approximately 200 hostages still in Hamas custody.
Her family said in a statement today: “We are experiencing moments of great uncertainty.” “The realization that we will not get the hug we wanted leaves us speechless.”
Although it is not known exactly which group is currently holding the family, military analyst Michael Horowitz said, “It looks like they could be in the hands of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).”
The PFLP is one of the largest groups forming the political coalition that claims to represent the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
It does not recognize Israel as a state and has in the past pushed for a one-state solution with Palestine at the helm.
The hostages are now safely back in Israel after spending weeks in Hamas custody
The hostages released yesterday evening were mostly small children, teenagers and mothers
The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross yesterday evening
The group is believed to be holding the Bibas family in Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip’s second largest city, which was home to just over 205,000 people in 2017.
Although they may be held by another group, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said responsibility for the hostages remained with Hamas.
According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, the city is expected to be the next target of Israel’s bloody offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed over 14,000 people.
Israel called on Palestinians living in the city to leave just over a week ago, indicating that fighting there would soon break out again once the now-extended ceasefire ends.
Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told MSNBC earlier this month: “We are asking people to move.” I know it’s not easy for many of them, but we don’t want civilians caught in the crossfire devices.
Mr. Regev said IDF troops needed to advance into the city to eliminate Hamas fighters from underground tunnels.
Sahar Kalderon, 16, was held by Hamas for over seven weeks and was released today under the extended ceasefire agreement
Erez Kalderon, 12, was released today by Hamas terrorists after more than seven weeks of captivity
He said he was “pretty sure” that Palestinians who had to move out of the city “wouldn’t have to move again” if they moved west toward the Mediterranean.
It is currently unclear when fighting will resume in the Gaza Strip, as Hamas and Israel are currently nearing the end of a now-extended ceasefire.
The temporary ceasefire, originally scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, was extended just hours before the deal expires, suggesting more Gaza hostages will be released this week.
The terms of the ceasefire agreement, which calls for a halt to fighting in the Gaza Strip, state that it can be extended beyond its original four-day term provided that 10 hostages are released for each additional day and, in return, three times as many Palestinians are released.
Qatar’s foreign ministry said the ceasefire had been extended for two more days, indicating that Hamas intended to release an additional 20 hostages in addition to the 50 that were scheduled to be released in the first four days.
After the fourth hostage and prisoner exchange, eleven more hostages held by Hamas are now back on Israeli soil.
The brothers were seen in good spirits wearing earmuffs in a convoy that is currently taking them back to Israel
Despite the smiles, many of the released children were forced to leave members of their families behind
Brothers Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9, and Gal Goldstein-Almog, 11, were seen in the company of what spokesman Daniel Hagari described as “an elite IDF unit.”
IDF spokesman Hagari said last night that “an elite IDF unit” had accompanied the group, all small children, teenagers and mothers, back to Israel, where they would undergo medical examinations.
“Our forces will accompany the returnees until they reach their families in the hospitals.”
All eleven released hostages, consisting of three French citizens, two German citizens and six Argentine citizens, were kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a settlement just a mile and a half from the Gaza border where an incident occurred of about 400.
The hostages, almost all of whom are young children and teenagers, were named as follows: Yuli Cunio, three, Emma Cunio, three, Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, Karina Engelbert, 51, Yagil Jacob, 12, Erez Kalderon, 12, Sahar Kalderon, 16, Or Jacob, 16, Yuval Engel, 11, Mika Engel, 18 and Eitan Yahalomi, 12.
But last night’s fears that Hamas would divide families appear to have been confirmed, as many of the released children were forced to leave their loved ones behind.
All 11 hostages came from the same settlement, Kibbutz Nir Oz, which is just a mile and a half from the Gaza border and had a population of around 400 before the raid
Despite the happy scenes, a spokesman for the hostages’ families told Web last night: “Every single child released this evening will be returned, while their father will be left behind in Hamas captivity in Gaza.”
The Cunio family is still missing their father David after they were all kidnapped from Nir Oz during the Hamas invasion.
Twelve-year-old Eitan will also miss his father Ohad, who is still a Hamas prisoner.
Eitan’s mother, Bat Sheva, previously revealed that motorcycle-riding Hamas militants tried to kidnap her and her children from their home in Nir Oz, but she managed to jump out with her two daughters.
She added that she was terrified that her Manchester City-supporting son might no longer be the same after his seven-week stay as a hostage.
The Kalderon family, which will soon be reunited with 16-year-old Sahar and 12-year-old Erez, is also missing their father, 53-year-old Oher.
It is currently unknown whether the hostages released last night have ever had contact with other family members also held by Hamas.
A spokesman for the hostages’ families told Web last night: ‘Every single child released this evening will be returned, while their father will be left behind in Hamas captivity in Gaza.’Very hard to swallow.’
The Red Cross was waiting for the hostages for the fourth time in just a few days
Images of Hamas handing over the 11 hostages showed its militants standing in a parade as civilians walked toward a Red Cross van
All 11 hostages were from the same settlement, Kibbutz Nir Oz. The head of the kibbutz, Osnat Peri, said in a statement last night: “The news tonight brings a sigh of relief in our community.”
He said that he and his community are still “deeply concerned for our loved ones who are still being held hostage,” adding that of the hostages remaining in Gaza, 49 are from Nir Oz.
Three of the hostages were French, and the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said in a post to X last night: “Three of our young compatriots are among the group of hostages released today.”
“Very pleased with this announcement.”
Images of Hamas handing over the 11 hostages showed its militants standing in a parade as civilians walked toward a Red Cross van that took them back to Israeli officials.
One hostage, who has not yet been identified, was seen leaving Hamas custody in a wheelchair, while several others were seen wearing bright pink clothing.
Raz Asher (left), four, her two-year-old sister Aviv (right) and their mother Doron, 34, reunite with their father and husband Yoni at Schneider Children’s Medical Center
Keren Munder, 54, and her son Ohad Munder, 9, with his father and a family member at Schneider Children’s Medical Center. Keren and Ohad were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7th
A group of Israelis celebrate as a helicopter carrying hostages released from the Gaza Strip lands at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center helipad in Petah Tikva, Israel
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a post last night
The deal is understood to have stalled and was on the verge of collapse.
Hamas had accused Israel of reneging on its end of the bargain and Israel threatened to continue its deadly attack on the Gaza Strip.
But mediators were still able to prevent it, resulting in the first public visit by Qatari officials to Israel, according to the AP.
Oria Brodutch jumps into the arms of his father, Avihai Brodutch, shortly after they were reunited in Israel on November 26th
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) meets soldiers at an unknown location in the Gaza Strip
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Gaza Strip during a temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel
Israeli media reported this afternoon that Hamas had changed its hostage list ahead of today’s exchange, reducing the number of people it would release.
The government said it was “dissatisfied” with the list of hostages to be released as it consisted of children and elderly women – suggesting that more families are to be separated because the children are not being released with their parents.
The European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said an extension of the current ceasefire in Gaza was within reach and would allow the international community to work on a political solution to the conflict.
He said the Palestinian Authority must take back control of Gaza from Hamas and offer a “better and more viable” alternative to it.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was determined to destroy Hamas and said his troops would resume their offensive “with all their might” as soon as the ceasefire expires, which they will now do on Tuesday unless further agreement is reached.