BREAKING NEWS: First 3 Hostages Released By Hamas – LIVE UPDATES

After 467 days since the evil October 7 attack, a hostage and ceasefire agreement has finally been reached between Israel and the Hamas terror organization, marking a significant breakthrough in the ongoing conflict.

10:38 AM UPDATE:

BREAKING: After 471 days in hamas captivity, the 3 Hostages are now in the Hands of the IDF.

The hostages are currently being checked by medical teams and will have a chance to refresh before traveling by helicopter to the hospital

Video below shows IDF helicopter preparing to pick the three Israeli hostages.

10:15 AM UPDATE:

3 Hostages release by Hamas were just handed over to the Fed across. They are now making their way over to the IDF meeting point

According to the Red Cross, one of the Israeli hostages just released has an injury to her hand (it seems like all the way from October 7) and was “immediately treated by professional staff on scene”.

1:30 AM UPDATE

The Hostage deal was supposed to start now but is delayed as Hamas has get to transfer the list of released hostages.

In the Gaza Strip, 97 hostages are still being held by Hamas, with 36 of them declared dead.

The Hamas terror organization says the delay in providing the list of released hostages to technical difficulties on the ground, while reaffirming their commitment to the agreed-upon deal.

IDF just attacked in the Nusseirat Refugee Camp in Central Gaza Strip.

6:00 PM UPDATE:

Over Shabbos, the Israeli Knesset approved the hostage deal in exchange for a release of up to 1,904 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including those serving multiple life sentences for deadly terror attacks and murder.

• – The prisoners to be released include 737 jailed detainees and security prisoners, some of whom are serving life sentences for murder.
• – Israel will also be releasing 1,167 Palestinians detained in the Gaza Strip during the IDF’s ground offensive, who did not participate in October 7 attack.

3:00 AM UPDATE:

The families of the hostages have been officially informed that 33 hostages are expected to be released.

9:00 PM UPDATE:

Ceasefire Agreement Reached: According to the Prime Minister’s Office, agreements have been reached on a deal, and the cabinet will convene tomorrow to approve the deal

Israeli Delegation Returns from Qatar: The Israeli delegation to the ceasefire talks has departed from Qatar and is headed back to Israel after signing the deal.

2:30 PM UPDATE:

BREAKING: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced: “If the hostage deal is approved, he and other Otzma Yehudit ministers will submit their resignation letters to Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, if Israel resumes fighting, they will offer to rejoin the government”

העסקה המתגבשת היא עסקה מופקרת. היא כוללת שחרור של מאות מחבלים רוצחים, חזרת אלפי מחבלים לצפון הרצועה, נסיגה מציר פילדלפי והפסקת הלחימה, ובכך למעשה העסקה תמחק את הישגי המלחמה.

לא זו בלבד, היא אינה מובילה לשחרור של כלל החטופים, חורצת את גורלם של יתר החטופים שאינם כלולים בעסקה, והיא… pic.twitter.com/tiMtYcsKph

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) January 16, 2025

2:00 PM UPDATE:

A statement by Minister Ben Gvir is being delayed as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is engaged in a phone call with the Minister. Netanyahu is reportedly attempting to convince Ben-Gvir not to resign, Yara Shapira reports.

1:15 PM UPDATE:

Belaaz correspondent report’s from Jerusalem: The government meeting for hostage deal approval has been postponed to Saturday night.

-Minister Ben Gvir to make a statement shortly.

-Sources close to Ben Gvir indicate that he is considering withdrawing from the government.j

12:15 PM UPDATE:

-Minister Amichai Shikli of the Likud party has announced that he is joining Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, stating that if Israel fails to defeat Hamas or withdraws from the Philadelphia Corridor, he will also resign from the government.

11:40 AM UPDATE:

-Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal disputes have now been resolved and the agreement is now done, Barak Ravid reports.

-Israel’s cabinet to approve hostages deal tomorrow morning (Friday)

11:20 AM UPDATE:

Shas Party Chairman Rabbi Aryeh Deri announced at the annual Shas conference in Jerusalem that he just received a message that a final agreement has been reached in the hostage deal, overcoming all obstacles.

Deri stated that the technical details are currently being finalized. He praised Prime Minister Netanyahu, crediting him for securing the agreement.

8:15 PM UPDATE:

Prime Minister’s Office Just. Released The Following Statement:

• – “Prime Minister Netanyahu held a conference call about an hour ago with the Israeli negotiating team in Doha, which reported to him on Hamas’ last-minute attempts to backtrack on the understandings of May 27.

• – “Among other things, contrary to an explicit clause that grants Israel a veto right over the release of mass-murdering terrorists who are symbols of terror, Hamas is now demanding to dictate the identity of these terrorists.”

• – “The Prime Minister instructed the negotiating team to stand firm on the agreed-upon understandings and dismiss Hamas’ last-minute attempts to renegotiate the terms.”

5:20 PM UPDATE:

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said out of the 7 American hostages, only 3 are currently believed to be alive, while the remaining 4 have sadly been confirmed dead.

Prime Minister’s office: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke on the phone this evening with US President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his “assistance in advancing the release of the hostages and for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families”.

A source tells The Washington Post about Trump’s envoy joining negotiations in Qatar and the influence in reaching a Hostage Deal: “This is the first time there has been real pressure on the Israeli side to agree to a deal.”

REPORT: American hostages Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen will be released in phase one of the hostage deal

Armed Hamas terrorists seen parading in the streets of Gaza earlier following the news of an imminent ceasefire between Israel and the terror group.

2:45 PM UPDATE:

Israel’s IDF is gearing up to welcome home hostages expected to be freed by Hamas from Gaza, as part of the imminent ceasefire agreement.

Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich stated that the condition for his party to remain in the government is a guarantee of a strong return to war in Gaza.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog calls on the members of the Cabinet to approve and endorse the Hostage deal, emphasizing that it is an essential step forward.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson confirms: “Ceasefire will begin on Sunday at 12:15 PM”

2:15 PM UPDATE:

Quotes from President Biden Address Confirming The Hostage Deal:

• – “Good afternoon. It’s a very good afternoon, because at long last I can announce a cease fire. And a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas”
• – “The elements of this deal are what I laid out in detail this May, Phase one will last six weeks. It includes a full and complete cease fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza, and and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas”
• – “This this is the ceasefire agreement I introduced last spring. Today, Hamas and Israel have agreed to that ceasefire agreement.. the road to this deal has not been easy.”
• – “This this is the ceasefire agreement I introduced last spring. Today, Hamas and Israel have agreed to that ceasefire agreement.. the road to this deal has not been easy.”
• – “one of the toughest negotiations I’ve ever experienced… We’ve reached this point because of the pressure that Israel built on Hamas, backed by the United States.”

1:50 PM UPDATE:

Operation Name Revealed: The Israeli military operation to return hostages has been dubbed “Wings of Freedom” (Knafay Dror).

Finalizing the Deal: The heads of Israel’s Mossad and Shin Bet, along with Major General Nitzan Alon, are expected to stay in Doha overnight to finalize the technical details of the agreement. Once they return to Israel, the cabinet will convene to approve the deal.

Release of Palestinian Prisoners: Israeli reporter Amit Segal reports that Palestinian terrorist prisoners to be released will be transferred to either Gaza or abroad, depending on their preference. However, this decision has sparked intense debate in Israel, with officials weighing the potential security implications.

Ceasefire Details: According to an Egyptian source, the first phase of the agreement includes a temporary halt to Israeli military flights over Gaza for 10 hours a day.

11:30 AM UPDATE:

US President Elect Donald Trump On Truth Social: “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you.”

Details of the agreement are remain unclear at this very moment, but it is understood that the deal will unfold in several stages. The first phase, slated for this Sunday, will see the release of 33 hostages. While the list of names has been provided by Hamas, but it is still unclear who among them is alive and who is deceased.

Israel is expected to implement the agreement, starting with a meeting of the security cabinet tomorrow, Thursday morning, followed by a special government session where the agreement will be finalized.

Hamas Statement: “We have delivered our consent to the deal – we acted with full responsibility and good intentions to halt aggression.”

An official Egyptian source told Al-Qahera channel: “After hours of intense effort, an agreement has been reached to end the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, thanks to the efforts of mediators.”

This is a Developing story. Belaaz will update on this as more verified details are released.