It’s official, a hostage deal has finally been agreed upon. A third of the hostages will at last be coming home, and praise God, to the great delight of Israel, three are already here.
Preparations are being made to help the hostages who will be in deep trauma as they come back home. The clinical neuropsychologist and rehabilitation psychologist leading the rehabilitation team at the Hostage Families Headquarters, Dr. Einat Yehene, reminds us:
“These hostages come from a reality of extreme violence, constant fear, and dire conditions—exposure to violent scenes, nutritional deprivation, sleep deprivation, and threats,” adding, “These circumstances leave significant imprints on both the mind and brain. The experiences, combined with the loss of control and identity, lead to severe symptoms such as psychomotor paralysis, disorientation in time and space, and serious physiological effects. The hostages are likely to face neurological and cognitive challenges, including memory disruptions and an inability to connect their experiences in captivity to their new reality. The rehabilitation process will be long and complex, extending far beyond the initial days after release. It will require comprehensive, systemic treatment—including motor and cognitive rehabilitation as well as prolonged emotional support.”3
Here in Israel emotions are very high. We are overjoyed at the thought of hostages finally coming home to their families, but we are paying a very heavy price. Some Israeli families whose relatives were brutally murdered by the terrorists about to be released in the hostage deal have been understandably resisting the deal. Equally, many of the hostage families are devastated that the deal doesn’t include all 98 held in captivity.
The deal was reached after Israelis paid a dear and heavy price in blood over the past 15 months with over 2000 dead, either murdered and fallen in action, and at a terrible cost in exchange.
The ceasefire has been agreed for 42 days during which 33 of the remaining 98 hostages, some of whom will be alive and others already dead, will be returned at last to their families. The first three will came home on Sunday: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher according to the Times of Israel1. In exchange for those three soldiers, 150 terrorists who have murdered Israelis will be set free on the streets. It’s a heart-wrenching decision to make, and some of the more extremist members of the government’s coalition have resigned in protest.
The hostages on the list to be set free are women, children, adults over the age of 50, and severely sick and wounded civilians. Starting with the women and children, around 3-4 additional hostages will be released every week over a course of six weeks. In exchange, up to 1,650 Palestinian prisoners will be released, 30 for each civilian and 50 for each female soldier. These are not “political prisoners”, they include arch-terrorists with a lot of blood on their hands. Many have been convicted and some sentenced with life imprisonment, including Gazan terrorists arrested in connection to the atrocities of October 7.
According to a Maariv poll, 73% of Israelis favor the deal, albeit with great misgivings. It seems like there is no other way to get the hostages home.
Redeeming captives is a subject well known and written about in Jewish literature. From the Exodus from Egypt, through the first and second diasporas, and unfortunately throughout church history, Jewish communities always redeemed their captives. This hostage deal is another link in the chain in the history of Israel.
As followers of Messiah, the release of captives is very dear to the heart of us all, and part of the message that Jesus Himself came to bring.
The famous red-headed Bibas children taken captive from Nir Oz are on the list to be released, and their parents Shiri and Yarden. We have no idea which of the hostages are still alive and who is dead. Families are getting ready either to embrace their loved ones, or bury them.
The names on the list are, in Hebrew alphabetical order:
1. Liri Albag
2. Itzhik Elgarat
3. Karina Ariev
4. Ohad Ben-Ami
5. Ariel Bibas
6. Yarden Bibas
7. Kfir Bibas
8. Shiri Silberman Bibas
9. Agam Berger
10. Romi Gonen
11. Danielle Gilboa
12. Emily Damari
13. Sagui Dekel-Chen
14. Yair Horn
15. Omer Wenkert
16. Alexander Troufanov
17. Arbel Yehud
18. Ohad Yahalomi
19. Eliya Cohen
20. Or Levy
21. Naama Levy
22. Oded Lifshitz
23. Gadi Moshe Moses
24. Avera Mengistu
25. Shlomo Mansur
26. Keith Siegel
27. Tsahi Idan
28. Ofer Calderon
29. Tal Shoham
30. Doron Steinbrecher
31. Omer Shem-Tov
32. Hisham Al Sayed
33. Eli Sharabi
During this first six week phase, Israel and Hamas will discuss the details regarding a second phase, with the goal being a final end to the war in Gaza.
This infographic from All Israel News gives the main points of the deal:
Please pray with us all at this time: Pray for our leaders here in Israel, and the other nations in the mediation process, who have to navigate these waters. Pray for all the hostages and families involved in this long ordeal, and also pray for Israel’s enemies. Our God is a God of peace, life, and of freedom. Join us in prayer for His will to be done.
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-january-19-2025/
- https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-837977
- https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-838145
