When Palestinian militants led by Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023 and captured approximately 250 people, it immediately raised a question.

0 became crucial to much of Israeli society.

The captives immediately became a symbol for Israelis to justify their brutal war on Gaza – a war that has now killed more than 46,800 Palestinians. But the topic has also divided Israelis, with many, especially those who support the opposition Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuinsists the government did not do enough to reach a deal to release them.

Now, a ceasefire agreement If all parties agree, the nightmare of captivity in Gaza may be coming to an end.

How many prisoners will be released in Gaza?

Around 100 Israeli prisoners are believed to remain in the Gaza Strip, all of whom are expected to be released if the deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas is fully implemented.

But not everything will be released immediately. During the first six weeks of the agreement, 33 captives are expected to be gradually released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The Israeli prisoners to be released during this phase include some who are sick or injured, as well as female soldiers and men over 50 years old.

Egypt said those released in the first phase would be used in exchange for 1,890 Palestinian prisoners. Israel said it would release 95 Palestinians, all women and children, on the first day of the ceasefire on Sunday.

The remaining captives, believed to be male soldiers, will be released in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners at a later stage of the ceasefire.

What do we know about the identities of the freed prisoners?

The official list of Israeli prisoners released in the first phase has not yet been released, and while the identities of those still in Gaza are known, it is unclear who is still alive.

In fact, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that the ceasefire would not begin until Israel received a list of prisoners to be released.

Hamas said some Israeli prisoners were killed in Israeli attacks on sites where they were being held, but information about some prisoners was also released in the video.

While all remaining prisoners are Israeli, some are dual nationals, including those from the United States, Argentina and Germany.

Five of the prisoners are believed to be female soldiers captured during the October 7 raid.

Two prisoners expected to be released in the first phase are Israelis captured in Gaza before October 7 and have spent several years in the enclave.

What will the handover process look like?

While the Israeli army has released some prisoners during a military operation that has killed dozens of Palestinian civilians, more than 100 people, the vast majority of whom were leaving Gaza, have been released under a temporary ceasefire. November 2023.

In that prisoner exchange, freed prisoners were transferred by Palestinian militants to the Red Cross and then handed over to Israeli forces.

Israel has prepared medical teams to receive the captives, and Haggai Levin, head of the hostage family forum’s health team, predicts that many will develop cardiovascular and respiratory problems after spending so long in underground tunnels.

How important is their captivity to Israel?

The issue of prisoners has been a central talking point for Israel and pro-Israel supporters since the war began.

Freeing prisoners has been one of Israel’s main war goals, but it could also conflict with one of its other stated goals – the total defeat of Hamas.

That’s because since the war began, Hamas has offered to release prisoners as part of a deal to end the war, a demand that Israel’s prime minister until recently rejected.

Indeed, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has claimed that he has been able to use his political power over the past year to block any deal, essentially putting the defeat of Hama The goals of Sri Lanka and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority were set as goals. Israel releases captives in prisoner swap above illegal Gaza settlements. Ben-Gvir is now expected to follow On his promise to resign If the deal goes through.

However, the return of the captives is the primary demand of many Israelis. Their pictures are plastered on posters across Israel, and demands to “bring them home immediately” are often heard at protests. A square in Tel Aviv has been renamed “Hostage Square” and is a focus of demonstrations.

A movement representing the captives’ families, who have often clashed with members of the Israeli government, has pledged to continue pushing for the prisoners’ release. “We will not allow them (far-right ministers) to undermine the full implementation of the agreement,” a spokesman said at an event in support of the ceasefire on Saturday.