The situation at a glance: Today, three more Gaza Geiseln

In the Gaza Strip, three other Israeli hostages are to be released by Islamist Hamas today. According to Israeli information, this is the three men Keith Siegel (65), Ofer Kalderon (54) and Jarden Bibas (35). In return, the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners is expected by Israel. In addition, according to Israeli media reports, the important border crossing Rafah between Egypt and Gaza is to be reopened. It was usable again and was operated by officials from the Palestinian Authority, which would be supported by EU border guards, the dpa learned of diplomats in Brussels.

Bibas, his wife Schiri and her two sons Kfir, who was still a baby at the time, and the then 4-year-old Ariel were deported on October 7, 2023 during the terrorist attack by Hamas and other extremist group in Israel. Jarden was injured and, according to the media, was kidnapped in the sealed Gaza Strip by his wife and children. While Jarden Bibas is supposed to be released after almost 16 months, the fate of his wife and children, who also have a German passport, is uncertain.

Concern about the fate of the Bibas family

Hamas had said a long time ago that the three died in Israel’s attacks. Israel did not confirm her death. The fear for them has increased in the past few days. After the ceasefire agreement, women and children should be released first. So far, nine women, including soldiers, and six men have been released. Including five Thai countries.

Bibas, who, in addition to Israeli, also has Argentine citizenship, as well as the other two freely mild men are to be handed over to the International Committee from the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army then takes her to a hospital. Keith Siegel also has the US citizenship, Ofer Kalderon also the French.

It is the fourth exchange of hostages with Palestinian prisoners, since on January 19, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had come into force in the Gaza Strip. The agreement stipulates that in a first phase, 33 hostages for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners are released within six weeks.

During the recent host of hostages in Chan Junis in the south of Gazas, scenes were disturbing in a live television transmission on Thursday when the German-Israelis Arbel Yehud (29) and Gadi Moses (80) had to go through a crowd and loudly screaming crowd. Hooded and armed Islamists accompanied and protected them in the crowd.

The pictures of the heavily armed fighters of Hamas and Islamic jihad are unreasonable from an Israeli perspective. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under strong pressure right -wing extremist coalition partners to continue the war. Israel and the Hamas had agreed that on the 16th day of the ceasefire, i.e. next Monday, they will take negotiations on a permanent end of the war and the release of all the hostages that are still alive. However, observers consider it possible that this second phase of the agreement may not be implemented.

White house confirms Netanyahu visit on Tuesday

However, this could seal the fate of the Israeli hostages – including many young men – that are still captured in the Gaza Strip and which should only be released in the second phase. According to Israeli information, 82 hostages are currently being recorded in the coastal area. Next week Israel’s head of government Netanyahu wants to travel to Washington. There, US President Donald Trump will receive him in the White House on Tuesday, as the spokeswoman for the US government center, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed in Washington. Trump is known as a close ally Netanyahus.

Meanwhile, this weekend, for the first time in nine months, seriously ill patients from the Gaza Strip are to be evacuated again via the Rafah border crossing. Around 50 are to be relocated to hospitals because they cannot be treated appropriately in the Gaza Strip, said Rik Peeperkorn, the representative of the World Health Authority WHO for the occupied Palestinian areas. But that is far too little. A total of 12,000 to 14,000 people urgently needed medical help outside the Gaza Strip. Among them are at least 2,500 children. It’s about people with life -threatening illnesses or war injuries.

Border crossing Rafah should open again

The Rafah border crossing is the only one to the Gaza Strip that does not lead over Israeli territory. It was closed after the Israeli army took control there last May on the Palestinian side. The reopening should also enable significantly more humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza. In the coastal area devastated by the war, more than two million people live.

Terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed around 1,200 people on October 7, 2023 in their raid on October 7, 2023 and delayed more than 250 Israelis to Gaza as hostages. The attack was the trigger of the war in the sealed coastal area, where, according to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, more than 47,400 people have been killed since then. The number does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.