by Amichai Stein
Sharren Haskel stated that the hostages may be released earlier than expected.
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Israel is “aware” of reports that the release of Gaza hostages could take place as early as Sunday, but the assessment remains that it will begin early on Monday, the Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons Gal Hirsch told Israeli reporters in a Sunday briefing.
According to Hirsch, “6 or 7 a.m.” on Monday is when it is most “realistic” for hostage releases to begin.
An Israeli government spokesperson also said on Sunday that the release of all 20 living hostages held in Gaza will begin early Monday morning, according to Reuters.
Sharen Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, told Sky News earlier on Sunday that Hamas “might start even releasing them tonight, so earlier than expected.”
Israeli authorities, as well as its military forces, concluded preparations in anticipation of the hostages’ arrival on Friday evening. However, Hirsch noted, “Israel is preparing with various parties,” including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in the case that the releases are brought forward.
“The Red Cross received everything they asked from us,” Hirsch said, adding he is in “direct contact with the ICRC’s coordinator in the region.
Upon their arrival in Israeli territory, the hostages will first meet privately with a dedicated team of psychological experts who also assisted in previous hostage releases in late 2023 and early 2025.
Following the aforementioned meetings, the hostages will arrive at Re’im camp, where they will reunite with their families for the first time since their kidnapping during the October 7 massacre.
In addition, the returning captives will undergo medical examinations in a specialized room at the Re’im complex, which has been significantly expanded since they are expected to be released in larger batches than in previous releases.
“Everyone will be there, and each family will have the privacy needed with their loved ones,” Hirsch reiterated.
After leaving the Rei’m camp, the hostages will be transferred to hospitals across the country for active monitoring and further treatment by medical officials.
Some 10 hostages are set to be hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center, with five set for Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus and five more to be received at Sourasky Medical Center’s Ichilov Hospital.
“The goal is to create a hermetic seal of protection for the hostages to be able to receive anything they would need,” an Israeli source said, adding that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the hospitals over the past few days” to give notes and hand further instructions to teams on the scene.”
Israeli authorities are further prepared to transfer hostages in need of emergency treatment to nearby hospitals, such as Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, if necessary.
Israel is prepared to receive the remains of 28 deceased hostages
After bringing the 20 living hostages to Re’im, the Red Cross convoy is set to return inside the Gaza Strip in order to collect the remains of some 28 captives thought to be deceased.“Adjustments will be made to the vehicles to bring the victims to Israel for burial,” Hirsch told reporters. “A number of slain hostages are expected to return to us tomorrow; we are not saying the number.
Some families of deceased hostages have received notice that their loved ones may not return to Israel tomorrow, according to two Israeli sources.
“They will arrive to us, be wrapped in the Israeli flag, and receive the honor, and [we will] say prayers in a respectful manner,” the coordinator said. “The convoy will then depart [to Abu Kabir Forensic Institute] for identification.”
Hirsch also reaffirmed that Israel is in contact with the families of foreign workers taken hostage on October 7. Hamas did not send Israel a list of the captives it is holding, but was working off a list sent by Hirsch, he said.
Some hostages whose status remains unknown were not named in the list of deceased hostages. These include Bipin Joshi and Tamir Nimrodi, Hirsch said. “We have not yet gotten to argue with Hamas about whether they know or do not know if they are buried,” he said.
On the issue of a joint Israeli-US-Qatari-Egyptian force tasked with locating missing remains of hostages, Hirsch said that the task force would commence its operation “as soon as the deceased captives are brought to Israel.
“We will allow for the entry to experts and engineering equipment where needed,” Hirsch said, as Israel plans to “act quickly” in order to retrieve all slain hostages who will not be returned by Hamas on Monday.
“[Strategic Affairs Minister Ron] Dermer made clear that Israel is demanding 100% effort on the part of Hamas” on the issue of retrieving remains of deceased hostages, Hirsch added.
The Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.
Amichai Stein
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870226
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