As part of the updated ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, a crucial appendix previously undisclosed to the public, details a revised timeline that will expedite the return of both living hostages and the remains of those murdered in captivity.
The New Schedule
Of the eight hostages confirmed deceased, four will be returned to Israel on Thursday, February 20, followed by another four on February 27. In between these transfers, a significant release of three to six living hostages is expected on Saturday, February 22. However, some of these hostages may only be freed on the final day of the deal, March 1. Previously, it was assumed that all fallen hostages would be returned in a single transfer at the end of the agreement. This change reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure a faster resolution.
Among Those to Be Released: Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed
Of the 14 remaining hostages still held by Hamas and expected to be released within the next 10 days, confirmed information exists for only three individuals:
- Shlomo Mansour, 86, from Kibbutz Kissufim, was officially declared deceased last week.
- Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, abducted years before the October 7 attack, are alive and will be returned during this phase.
Both Mengistu and al-Sayed suffer from severe mental health conditions. They had each individually crossed voluntarily into Gaza before being captured. Despite this, Israel has remained committed to securing their return, recognizing their status as Israeli citizens held by Hamas.
Following the completion of this deal, 59 hostages will remain in Hamas captivity. Of these, 28 have been declared dead, while approximately 20 are believed to still be alive, a determination based on testimony from recently released hostages and Israeli intelligence. Most of these individuals were kidnapped on October 7, with the exception of Hadar Goldin, whose remains have been held in Gaza since 2014, following Operation Protective Edge.
Phase Two: Strategic Shifts in the Negotiations
According to officials involved in the discussions, including U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chair Yuli Edelstein, Israel has already begun preliminary talks with Hamas regarding a second phase of hostage negotiations. The Israeli Security Cabinet met on the matter yesterday.
The new phase is being shaped by significant strategic shifts, including Former President Trump’s declaration of a new plan for Gaza, and recent Hamas actions that nearly collapsed the current deal, raising concerns over the group’s ability to uphold further agreements.
As negotiations continue, Israeli officials remain cautious, recognizing that while progress has been made, Hamas’ reliability as a negotiating partner remains in question.
