Emmanuel Macron announced that two Franco-Israelis, Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi, are on the list of the first hostages to be released by Hamas. The President of the Republic is currently on an official visit to Lebanon.
The two men are on the list of thirty-three hostages who are to be released in the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas. They were taken hostage by Hamas during the bloody attack of October 7, 2023.
First wave of release expected on Sunday
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office says the first wave of releases of hostages held in Gaza should take place as early as Sunday. Other reports indicated that the implementation of the truce could be delayed by a day.
The Israeli security cabinet meets this Friday morning to vote on the truce agreement with Hamas. “Subject to the approval (…) and implementation of the agreement, the release of the hostages can take place according to the planned plan, the (first) hostages to be released on Sunday,” indicates a press release from the office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ohad Yahalomi, who turned 50 in captivity, was kidnapped from his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz. His son Eitan (12 years old), released on November 27, 2023 during the first truce, was kidnapped separately.
Ofer Kalderon, a 54-year-old French Israeli, was kidnapped along with Erez and Sahar, his son and daughter aged 12 and 16 respectively at the time, also from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The two teenagers were also released during the first truce.