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Hamas announced on Friday that three hostages—Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and Keith Samuel Siegel—are expected to be released from Gaza on Saturday. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed receiving the list of hostages set to be freed after verification by Israeli officials, who then informed the families before releasing the names publicly.
Among the hostages, one is believed to be an Israeli-American citizen. The list was handed to Mossad chief David Barnea by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The announcement follows the chaotic scenes during Thursday's release of other hostages, Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses. Israel has reportedly secured assurances from Hamas to prevent further disruptions during future releases. The government also warned that if disturbances occur, it may delay the limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing on Saturday.
In response to the developments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement addressing the nation. He welcomed the return of freed hostages and pledged to continue ensuring their safety. He also criticized the chaotic nature of the previous handover, warning that Israel would not accept any risk to its hostages. Netanyahu issued a stern warning to anyone attempting to harm hostages, asserting that they would be held accountable.
*With information from Jerusalem Post
