In Tel Aviv, Israel, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed receiving a second list of hostages set to be released by Hamas. This list was provided by mediators, and a formal statement from the Israeli government is expected soon. The Times of Israel reported that the list of female hostages published by Hamas violates the ceasefire agreement, which states that female civilian hostages should be released first, followed by female soldiers.
On January 19, the first day of the truce, civilians Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher were freed after 471 days in Gaza. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) shared a photo of the hostages with the caption, "They're home," as they were transferred to a reception point in southern Israel for medical assessment. This marked the start of the ceasefire-hostage deal, which was delayed due to concerns about Hamas' commitment to providing a list of hostages.
Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that any violations of the agreement would "not be tolerated." Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed national joy at the return of the hostages and acknowledged the ongoing efforts to bring all hostages back. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and abducting over 200 others. In response, Israel's counter-offensive in Gaza resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths. Earlier, over 100 hostages were freed during a ceasefire in November 2023.
Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel, which means he is the leader of the government in Israel.
Hamas is a group that has control over the Gaza Strip, a region near Israel. They often have conflicts with Israel.
A hostage is a person who is captured and held by someone, usually to get something in return.
A ceasefire is an agreement to stop fighting for a certain period of time, usually to allow for peace talks or humanitarian aid.
Isaac Herzog is the President of Israel, a role that is mostly ceremonial, meaning he represents the country but doesn't make government decisions.
The Gaza Strip is a small area of land where many Palestinians live. It is located next to Israel and is often in the news because of conflicts.
This date marks the beginning of a recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, where there was an attack that led to many people getting hurt or killed.
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