20 Israeli hostages are coming home soon - Who are they?
Inside the lives suspended between terror and freedom - an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor who escaped Iraq's Farhud now held in Hamas tunnels, a mother filmed wrapping her children in blankets as terrorists stormed in, a young man whose engagement ring waits in its box, and 17 others marking endless days in hell as their families keep vigil.


In recent exchanges, 18 hostages have been freed from Hamas captivity, including 13 Israeli citizens and 5 Thai nationals. However, 20 hostages who were meant to be part of this phase remain in captivity, with their release expected in the coming weeks. Hamas has claimed that 8 of these listed hostages are deceased but hasn't identified who they are.
Breakdown of the 20 Remaining Hostages
- 7 adults over 50
- 10 individuals known to have medical conditions or injuries
- 3 members of the Bibas family
- 2 pre-war captives (Abera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed) scheduled for release at the phase's conclusion
Additional Hostages Not Included in First Phase
59 hostages fall outside the scope of the first phase:
- 35 have been confirmed deceased
- 24 remain alive but won't be released until later stages, including:
- 11 people kidnapped from the Nova music festival
- 4 military personnel
- 7 residents from Gaza envelope communities
- 2 foreign workers
Release Schedule Update
This week saw an unexpected additional release phase on Thursday, modifying the original schedule. This change means the final week will now see 11 hostages released instead of the originally planned 14, some of whom are now known to be deceased.

Profiles of Notable Hostages
The Bibas Family
Shiri Bibas (33)
A dedicated member of the Nir Oz kibbutz accounting team and former childcare worker, Shiri was taken with her two young sons. The tragic loss of her parents during the attack has deeply affected the community. Her cousin Yifat expressed the family's anguish: "It's gut-wrenching to see what they've been through."
Ariel Bibas (4)
Kidnapped alongside his mother and baby brother from their Nir Oz home. The footage of his mother desperately wrapping him and his brother in a blanket became one of the war's most haunting images. His fifth birthday in August was marked by thousands at Hostages Square instead of the kindergarten celebration it should have been. Their father Yarden, seen in separate footage being taken to Gaza, was released yesterday (Shabbat).
Kfir Bibas (Infant)
The youngest hostage, taken at just 9 months old. His second birthday passed in captivity, marked globally as "the saddest birthday in the world." Security footage captured the militants' invasion of the family's home.
Other Notable Hostages
Ohad Ben Ami (55)
Taken from Be'eri with his wife Raz after hours hiding in their safe room. Their daughter Ella's whispered phone conversations with reporter Danny Kushmaro revealed their ordeal to a shocked nation. Father to three daughters.
Eli Sharabi (52)
Captured from Be'eri in circumstances that saw his wife Lianne and daughters Yahel (13) and Noha (16) killed. His brother Yossi, also taken, is believed to have died in an Israeli strike. His current condition and awareness of his family's fate remain unknown.
Itzhak Elgaret (69)
A Nir Oz resident who sustained a gunshot wound to his hand during capture. His brother Danny attempted to guide him through making a tourniquet over the phone. A former Denmark resident who returned to Israel after his divorce, he's known for his passionate support of Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer club.
Shlomo Mansour (86)
A Holocaust survivor taken from Kisufim, where he's lived with his wife Mazal for 60 years since helping found the community. The grandfather of 13 survived the Farhud pogrom in Iraq and is known for his carpentry skills.
Ohad Yahalomi (50)
Taken wounded from Nir Oz in a harrowing incident that saw his family separated. While his wife Bat Sheva managed to escape with their daughters, his son Eitan was taken separately but has since been released. Ohad, an ironman athlete and Nature and Parks Authority employee, remains in captivity.
Oded Lifshitz (83)
A former "Al Hamishmar" journalist and human rights activist captured from Nir Oz with his wife Yocheved, who was released in October for humanitarian reasons. Fellow captive Ada Sagi reported seeing him in Khan Yunis, where he was seeking medical attention for a bullet wound while constantly asking about his wife's wellbeing.
Tzachi Idan (50)
Taken from Nahal Oz during an attack that was partially captured on live video, resulting in the death of his eldest daughter Maayan (18). His wife Gali and children Yael (11) and Shachar (9) survived.
Hisham al-Sayed (35)
An Israeli Bedouin with mental health challenges who entered Gaza in April 2015. Hamas released footage of him in June 2022 showing him conscious but wearing an oxygen mask. He's been held for nearly a decade.
Sagui Dekel-Chen (36)
A social entrepreneur and co-founder of Bikurim Youth Village. Father to Bar (6), Gili (2), and newborn Shachar, who came into the world during his captivity. With his wife Avital, he operates "Columbus," a mobile grocery serving southern communities.
Yair Horn (46)
Taken from Nir Oz along with his visiting brother Eitan. Known locally for his work in construction and renovation, and for his role in organizing community events and managing the local pub. His mother Ruti describes him as a life-loving person who enjoyed stand-up comedy and radio broadcasting.
Omer Wenkert (23)
Captured at the Nova music festival. Hamas has released images showing him bound and injured. He suffers from colitis, a chronic condition that worsens under stress. His last message to his mother was "I'm terrified." Released hostage Liam Or reports forming a close friendship with Omer in captivity, noting his constant message to "Don't lose hope."
Sasha (Alexander) Trufanov (29)
An Amazon cloud engineer taken from his family home in Nir Oz. His girlfriend Sapir Cohen, mother Elena, and grandmother Irena were also captured but later released, while his father Vitaly was killed. Recently appeared in propaganda videos released by Islamic Jihad, including one shortly after his second birthday in captivity.
**Eliya Cohen (27)**
Taken from the Nova festival while trying to escape with his girlfriend Ziv, who survived. Despite being wounded, his last words to her were reassuring before being dragged away. A former party producer working in real estate, he had been planning to propose to Ziv. His father's health has deteriorated significantly since the kidnapping.
Or Levy (34)
Captured at the Nova festival while fleeing with his wife Einav Elkayam, who was killed at the "Bird Shelter" (now known as the "Death Shelter") near Re'im kibbutz. Their young son Almog is being cared for by both sets of grandparents.
Tal Shoham (39)
Taken during a visit to Kibbutz Be'eri with his family. While his wife Adi and children Nave (8) and Yahel (3) were released in November, he remains in captivity. Several of his family members were killed during the attack.
Omer Shem Tov (22)
Captured from the Nova festival while trying to escape by car with siblings Itay and Mia Regev (both since released). His parents tracked his phone's location as it moved toward Gaza during increasingly panicked calls reporting gunfire and casualties.
Their families and all us are waiting with baited breath and counting the seconds until these hostages finally go free.
Channel 12 contributed to this article.