8 Israeli hostages feared dead after Hamas hands over list of those due to be released: report

At least eight of the initial group of hostages due to be released by Hamas are dead, according to new reports Monday.The heartbreaking tally emerged as the terror group handed over a list overnight featuring the 33 scheduled to be released as part of the first phase of its cease-fire deal with Israel — showing only 25 as still being alive, a Hamas official said.A source familiar with the cease-fire deal told the Telegraph that the eight hostages unaccounted for on the list were dead.The sparse list didn’t divulge the wellbeing or names of the hostages, according to the report.It comes amid reports that Israel has already warned some of the hostages’ families that there is “grave concerns” for their lives.A relative of one family taken hostage — Shiri Bibas, her husband, Yarden, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir — told local media they had yet to receive any concrete information on their loved ones’ wellbeing.“There is no difference between what we knew yesterday and what we know today,” Yarden’s sister Ofri Bibas said, according to the Times of Israel.“We have known that there is grave fear for their lives since Hamas’ announcement at the end of the previous deal.”The development comes after four female Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from a southern military base were freed Saturday as the cease-fire deal hostage swap continues to unfold.

Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19, were all received by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City.During the exchange, Hamas brought the four women onto a stage where they smiled and waved as they were surrounded by cheering onlookers and a slew of gun-toting terrorists.Their release came six days after Israel received the first three hostages released after the initial phase of the deal went into effect — bringing fighting in the brutal 15-month war to a halt.With Post wires ...