About 50 days passed before Hamas agreed to release a group of Israeli and foreign hostages held in captivity. Hamas took an estimated 240 men, women, children, and babies hostage on Oct. 7 during a violent terrorist attack that left about 1,200 Israelis dead.
Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary cease-fire beginning Nov. 24. The initial cease-fire agreement was for four days, and Hamas agreed to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
On Monday, the cease-fire was extended two more days and additional small groups of hostages were released Tuesday and Wednesday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The cease-fire was extended one more day Thursday morning, moments before it was set to expire. More hostages are expected to be released Thursday under the existing agreement that Israeli officials will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every 10 Israeli hostages freed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the fight against Hamas will resume when the cease-fire ends.
As of Wednesday night, about 100 hostages, mainly women and children, had been released in exchange for the release of more than 200 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
The released hostages include Israeli, American, Filipino, Polish, Thai, and Russian citizens, some of whom are duel Israeli citizens.
Below is a timeline of the release of the hostages.
Oct. 20
Number of Hostages Released: 2
Names of Hostages Released: Judith Tai Raanan, 59, and daughter Natalie, 17.
Oct. 23
Number of Hostages Released: 2
Names of Hostages Released: Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79.
Nov. 24
Number of Hostages Released: 25
Names of Hostages Released: Yafa Adar, 85; Margalit Moses, 77; Hana Katzir, 76; Adina Moshe, 72; Daniel Aloni, 45; Emilia Aloni, 5; Doron Katz Asher, 34; Raz Asher, 4; Aviv Asher, 2; Channa Peri, 79; Ruth Munder, 78; Karen Munder, 54; and Ohad Munder, 9.
Ten Thai hostages, one Polish hostage, and one Filipino hostage were also released Friday.
Nov. 25
Number of Hostages Released: 13
Names of Hostages Released: Emily Hand, 9; Hila Rotem, 13; Maya Regev, 21; Noam Or, 17; Alma Or, 13; Shiri Weiss, 53; Noga Weiss, 18; Sharon Avigdori, 52; Noam Avigdori, 12; Shoshan Haran, 67; Adi Shoham, 38; Yahel Shoham, 3; and Naveh Shoham, 8.
Nov. 26
Number of Hostages Released: 17
Names of Hostages Released: Abigail Edan, 4; Ron Krivoi, 25; Hagar Brodutch, 40; Ofry Brodutch, 10; Yuval Brodutch, 8; Oria Brodutch, 4; Chen Goldstein Almog, 49; Agam Goldstein Almog, 17; Gal Goldstein Almog, 11; Tal Goldstein Almog, 9; Elma Avraham, 84; Adrienne Siegel, 62; Ela Elyakim, 8; and Dafna Elyakim, 14.
Three Thai nationals were also released Sunday.
Nov. 27
Number of Hostages Released: 11
Names of Hostages Released: Eitan Yahalomi, 12; Sharon Kunio, 34; Emma Kunio, 3; Yuli Kunio, 3; Karina Engel, 51; Mika Engel, 18; Yuval Engel, 11; Sahar Kalderon, 16; Erez Kalderon, 12; Or Yaakov, 16; and Yagil Yaakov, 13.
Nov. 28
Number of Hostages Released: 12
Names of Hostages Released: Ditza Heiman, 84; Tamar Metzger, 78; Ada Sagi, 75; Meirav Tal, 53; Ofelia Roitman, 77; Gabriela Leimberg, 59; Mia Leimberg, 17; Clara Merman, 63; Rimon Kirsht, 36; Noralin Babadilla, 60.
Two Thai nationals were also released Tuesday.
Nov. 29
Number of Hostages Released: 16
Names of Hostages Released: Irena Tatti, 73; Elena Trufanova, 50; Gali Tarshanksy, 13; Ofir Engel, 17; Amit Shani, 16; Itay Regev, 18; Yarden Roman Gat, 36; Raaya Rotem, 54; Raz Ben-Ami, 57; Liat Beinin, 49; Liam Or, 18; and Moran Stela Yanai, 40.
Four Thai nationals were also released Wednesday.
On this week’s edition of the “Problematic Women” podcast, we discuss what is known about the condition the hostages were kept in and highlight the story of one of the American-Israeli hostages released.
Listen to the podcast below:
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