Palestinian militant group Hamas has released the list of 33 Israeli hostages who have been scheduled for release in the first phase. Of the 33, only 25 are alive, according to reports. A Hamas official said the list was handed over to the mediators who have taken it to Israel.
Though Israel has not yet officially confirmed the list, a government spokesman told Reuters that Hamas has given some details of who is alive and who is dead.
The list was reportedly divided into four categories: men, women, dead and alive. The Israeli authorities who received the list have informed the families. While some were informed that the list confirmed the assessment that their loved ones were alive, other families were informed that their relatives were deceased. However, it was clarified to these families that a hostage cannot be officially declared dead while their body remains in captivity unless Israel obtains unequivocal evidence.
Meanwhile, some of the hostages released from Gaza had been held in Hamas tunnels for up to eight months with zero human contact, deprived of daylight, an Israeli general told reporters. "Some of them told us that they've been in the past few months, that they've been through the entire time, in tunnels, underground," deputy chief of the Israeli military's medical corps, Colonel Dr. Avi Banov said.
"Some of them were alone through the entire time they were there," he said. "Those who said they were together were in better shape."
Though Banov did not say whether any of them bore signs of torture or abuse, he said their treatment improved in the days leading up to their release. They appeared to be in good condition and smiling in videos on the days of their release. However, some had not received proper treatment for wounds sustained when they were captured by the Hamas. "Some showed signs of mild starvation," Banov said.
So far, seven hostages have been released. While three civilians were released on the first day of the cease-fire, four soldiers were freed in the cease-fire's second swap on Saturday.
