Austrian Hamas Hostage Tal Shoham Before Release

As relatives informed the APA, they were notified by the Israeli authorities that Shoham is on a list of six hostages that Hamas will release on Saturday. "We can confirm that we have been informed that the release is apparently planned for this Saturday," said a statement from the family.

Hamas plans to release a total of six living hostages on Saturday, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya announced on Tuesday. According to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas was initially supposed to release three living hostages on Saturday. Al-Hayya also said that on Thursday the bodies of four hostages would be handed over. The remaining bodies should be handed over in the sixth week of the ceasefire, Al-Hayya said. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of the coming week.

Relatives: "Hopeful, But Remain Cautious"

The step is a continuation of efforts for a successful course of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Israel. He also spoke of preparations for talks on a second phase of the ceasefire. In return, Israel must release Palestinian prisoners as agreed. According to Hamas, among the six living hostages to be released, besides Shoham, are also two Israelis who have been held in the Gaza Strip for about a decade.

The ceasefire agreement was on the brink more than once - most recently because Hamas accused Israel of not allowing enough aid into the Gaza Strip. "We are hopeful, but we remain cautious and pray that Tal returns safely," Shoham's relatives further stated. They are "incredibly grateful" for Austria's support in "these difficult times".

German: "Tired of the Psychological Warfare of the Hamas Beasts"

The President of the Israelite Religious Society, Oskar Deutsch, stated in a release: "We are tired of the psychological warfare of the Hamas beasts, but at the same time cautiously looking forward to the fact that after 500 days, Tal Shoham is finally to be freed from the violence of Hamas. We pray for his health and the release of all hostages."

Children, women, and men - "including the nephew of an Austrian woman, namely Bar Kupershtein" - are still hostages of the mass murderers in the Gaza Strip, Deutsch lamented. He particularly expressed infinite concern for the condition of the children of Yarden Bibas, who was released in early February, and their mother.

However, Deutsch also criticized: "That so many remained silent for 500 days, that so many continue to reverse the roles of perpetrator and victim, and that the world has not united against the barbarity of Hamas and its allies, can never be forgotten. The immediate and unconditional release of all hostages is long overdue."

Release of 33 Hostages in Exchange for Palestinian Prisoners

Since the beginning of the ceasefire in the Gaza war on January 19, the Islamists have released 19 hostages in several rounds. Additionally, five Thais abducted from Israel were freed independently of the agreement. The multi-stage agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates that during an initial six-week phase, a total of 33 hostages will be released gradually in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners. Of these, 14 abductees, including eight deceased, remain in the custody of Hamas.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.