January 27, 2025 | Flash Brief
Hamas Agrees to Release Three Additional Hostages as Israel Partially Lifts Netzarim Closure
January 27, 2025 | Flash Brief
Hamas Agrees to Release Three Additional Hostages as Israel Partially Lifts Netzarim Closure
Latest Developments
- Civilian Hostages to Be Released: Israel and Hamas reached a deal on January 26 that will see the release of Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger, and one other hostage in exchange for the opening of the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects northern and southern Gaza. After Hamas reneged on its obligation to release civilian hostages on January 25 and instead freed four IDF soldiers, Israel responded by maintaining the IDF presence in Netzarim, preventing displaced Gazans from passing. Yehud, Berger, and another unnamed hostage will ostensibly be freed on January 30, with three more hostages being released two days later. Israel, in turn, opened the Netzarim Corridor on the morning of January 27, allowing Palestinians to cross to northern Gaza.
- Gunmen Present Upon Return: Online footage showed Hamas gunmen waving to Gazans after they passed through Netzarim. Pedestrians using the coastal Rashid Street to cross into northern Gaza are not required to undergo inspection, but vehicles, which must use a separate route, are subject to screening for weapons. Separately, two U.S.-based security contractor companies will deploy to Netzarim checkpoints this weekend to inspect vehicles, where they are authorized to confiscate any weapons found but not permitted to detain individuals.
- Eight Hostages Confirmed Dead: As part of the resolution of the Netzarim crisis, Hamas provided details on the conditions of 26 hostages still due to be freed in the first phase of the ceasefire, which will last another five weeks. The update confirmed Israeli assessments that eight of the hostages have died while in Hamas captivity, though their names were not published.
FDD Expert Response
“Israel, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt must act swiftly to ensure this fragile deal holds. Hamas is exploiting the suffering of civilians to undermine Israel’s military gains. Once Palestinians return to northern Gaza, it will complicate any future military action, and if weapons are smuggled in, it will endanger IDF troops tasked with returning.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO
“Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip are welcoming the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza. Yet it is ironic that these organizations played a key role in creating the circumstances that drove Palestinian civilians to flee south during the war. Regrettably, many Palestinians fail to recognize this irony and instead celebrate the so-called ‘Palestinian Resistance’ despite the devastation these armed factions have inflicted on Gaza.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal
FDD Background and Analysis
“The Netzarim Corridor Has Become a Magnet for Hamas Attacks,” by Seth J. Frantzman
“‘Redeem Them From Death’: Israel Recovers Four Female Soldiers Held in Gaza for 477 Days,” FDD Flash Brief
“Released Palestinians Greeted with Terrorist Flags, Notorious Terrorists Set for Release in Future Rounds,” FDD Flash Brief