Second group of Israeli hostages nears freedom after Hamas delay

The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was rescued from the brink of failure Saturday as the terror group agreed to free a second group of 13 Israeli hostages and seven foreign nationals after hours of agonizing delay.

Hamas confirmed that the deal was moving ahead after initially claiming that Israel reneged on the terms of the four-day pause in hostilities.

An Israeli official said his government was “cautiously optimistic” that the deal could go down as promised.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had gathered for emergency talks with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Minister Benny Gantz, and security chiefs about Hamas’ delay of the planned release of a second wave of Israeli hostages, Haaretz reported.

The terror group said it was stalling due to Israel’s “non-compliance” with the terms of the cease-fire deal, claiming that the number of aid trucks that reached northern Gaza on Saturday was only half of what was promised – a claim that Israel dismissed.

The excruciating negotiations came on the second day of a four-day cease-fire between the terror group and the Israeli government, and stalled the release of the 39 Palestinian prisoners set to have been given in exchange for 13 hostages abducted in Hamas’ vicious raid on Oct. 7.

“This is manipulation by [Hamas leader] Yahya Sinwar,” former hostage negotiator Yaron Blum told the Times of Israel.

Gazans flocked to outdoor markets set amid piles of rubble Saturday as they ventured out to stock up on food on the second day of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire.AP
Food prices have skyrocketed in Gaza since fighting began last month.AP

In other developments Saturday:

Shoppers thronged central Gaza’s Nuseirat market as war-weary civilians stocked up on food supplies on the second day of the ceasefire with Israel, according to video captured by photojournalist Attia Darwish. Food and beverage prices in the war-torn Gaza Strip have jumped 10 percent over the last month, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said, while vegetable prices skyrocketed by 32 percent.
At least 70 aid trucks carrying food, water, fuel and medical supplies entered the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing Saturday, a border crossing spokesperson told CNN. The aid included 150,000 liters of fuel and four trucks with natural gas for cooking, said spokesperson Hesham Edwan. The ongoing humanitarian cease-fire agreement was to allow 200 aid trucks into the war-torn region.

A container ship owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer was targeted by a suspected Iranian drone while it was traveling through international waters in the Indian Ocean, a US defense official said. No crew members of the CMA CGM Symi were injured in the attack, but the ship suffered some damage when the drone exploded. Ofer recently resigned from the board of Harvard’s Kennedy School to protest its lukewarm response to the Oct. 7 massacre.
Poignant photos and videos emerged of the first round of hostage releases reuniting with their loved ones nearly two months after they were abducted.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian marchers descended on central London to call for a permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, holding signs that read “Stop the War on Gaza” and “Ceasefire Now!”

No American citizens were expected to be included in Saturday’s hostage release, a US official told CNN. 

“The President secured the release of two American citizens as the pilot to this larger release of hostages,” the White House official said. “We are early in the process … We are hopeful that will include three dual national women and children, who are American citizens.”

The CMA CGM Symi container ship, owned by an Israeli billionaire, was targeted by an Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.AP

Heartbreaking details of the released hostages’ experiences in captivity began to emerge Saturday as the first group of 24 hostages freed on Friday, including 13 Israeli women and children, were reunited with their families.

Ruti Monder, 78, learned of her son Roy’s killing over the radio, she told tearful loved ones on Friday, the Times of Israel said.

Video footage showed Ruti’s daughter, Keren Monder, learning that her father, 78-year-old Avraham, was also a hostage — evidence that the Israeli captives were being held in separate locations.

“So he wasn’t murdered,” Keren, 55, could be heard saying.

But Hannah Katzier, 77, only discovered that her husband had been slain and her son abducted after her own 49-day ordeal.

Rami Katzier, 79, was killed by Hamas terrorists in the family’s safe room on Oct. 7, the Times of Israel reported. Son Elad remains in captivity.

A series of photos issued by the Israel Defense Forces showed their heartwarming efforts to prepare for the arrival of dozens of children held captive in dire conditions for nearly seven weeks.

Child-sized sets of noise-canceling headphones waited for the youngsters in a transport helicopter, while teddy bears, stickers, toys and oversized pillows were ready for them in a holding facility where they will be checked by medical personnel before being reunited with their waiting families.

Earlier Saturday, negotiations had been underway to extend the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas “by a day or two,” Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing a report from Egypt’s Al-Cahra Al-Akhbariya channel.

“Egypt has received positive indications from all sides to extend the cease-fire,” the report allegedly said

The four-day temporary truce agreement stipulates that the pause can be extended for one further day for each additional 10-hostage group returned to Israel, the Times of Israel reported — but the status of the negotiation was unclear amid the delay in Saturday’s hostage release.

Israeli soldiers relaxed near the Israel-Gaza border Saturday as they awaited release of a second group of hostages.AP
An IDF soldier grabbed a nap in a camp in southern Israel as the cease-fire continued.AP

Hamas has located an additional 10 to 20 hostages that it could potentially free, Haaretz reported — while Israeli officials estimated that Hamas has ready access to around 30 more hostages, in addition to the 50 included within the current negotiation terms.

Separately, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said the Israeli military has no intention of ceasing its war against Hamas — and is using the halt in hostilities to “study, to better prepare our abilities and also to rest a little.”

“We do not intend, do not want, and are not ready to stop this effort before we return all the hostages,” Halevi told a group of soldiers Saturday, adding that the IDF’s intense attacks on Gaza had made the hostage deal possible. “It is our moral duty to bring them back.” .