Hostages Yarden Bibas, Ofer Calderon back on Israeli soil

Bibas and Calderon were first handed over to Red Cross teams in Khan Younis in a staged handover ceremony, surrounded by dozens of armed operatives. Calderon, who was abducted from his home as a civilian, was notably dressed in a military uniform. After the transfer, both were placed in IDF custody before making their way to Israeli territory.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt reaffirmed U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to securing the release of all remaining hostages, saying, “The president remains steadfast in his efforts to bring home every hostage who should never have been taken by the brutal terrorist organization Hamas. The White House welcomes the release of the eight additional hostages yesterday, thanks to a deal brokered by President Trump. They are finally reuniting with their families after enduring more than 15 months of inhumane captivity.”

The Health Ministry announced that, following initial medical evaluations, the three hostages will be transferred to Sourasky and Sheba medical centers, with Barzilai and Soroka hospitals on standby in case urgent medical intervention is needed. As in previous releases, IDF forces will escort the hostages out of Gaza, bringing them to a reception center in Re’im, where they will receive immediate care and reunite with their families before heading to the designated hospitals for further treatment.

As part of the cease-fire deal, Israel is set to release 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages—nine serving life sentences and 81 others convicted of long-term offenses. However, Hamas’ “Ministry of Prisoners” in Gaza published a list of 183 names, including 18 serving life terms, 54 with lengthy sentences and 111 Gaza residents detained after October 7.