Who are the 33 Israeli hostages set to be released under first phase of Gaza ceasefire?

Israelis in Tel Aviv celebrate news that a ceasefire had been agreed - (EPA)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war-time security cabinet has approved a long-awaited ceasefire deal with Hamas.

The cabinet convened early this morning to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal after 15 months of brutal conflict, with the full cabinet set to follow suit and give final approval on Friday.

Mr Netanyahu’s office said the first Israeli hostages will be released on Sunday, marking the start of a three-phase plan to end the war.

Up to 33 of the nearly 100 hostages would be reunited with their families and loved ones during this 42-day period.

Here, The Independent takes a look at those who could be among the 33 released after over a year of captivity:

A woman walks past photos of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Many Israelis have celebrated the ceasefire, with others describing it as capitulation to Hamas (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Women and children

Romi Gonen, 23

Emily Damari, 27

Arbel Yehud, 29

Doron Steinbrecher, 31

Ariel Bibas, 5

Kfir Bibas, 2

Shiri Silberman Bibas, 33

Liri Albag, 19

Karina Ariev, 20

Agam Berger, 21

Danielle Gilboa, 20

Naama Levy, 20

Kfir Bibas, 2, is on the list of those set to be returned to Israel. It is not clear who is dead or alive (PA)

Elderly men

Ohad Ben-Ami, 58

Gadi Moshe Moses, 80

Keith Siegel, 65

Ofer Calderon, 54

Eli Sharabi, 52

Itzik Elgarat, 70

Shlomo Mansour, 86

Ohad Yahalomi, 50

Oded Lifshitz, 84

Tsahi Idan, 50

The home of 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz, which was destroyed by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press All rights reserved)

Younger men

Hisham al-Sayed, 36

Yarden Bibas, 35

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36

Yair Horn, 46

Omer Wenkert, 23

Sasha Trufanov, 28

Ofri Bibas Levy shows a picture of her brother Yarden, 35, who was captured by Hamas (REUTERS)

Eliya Cohen, 27

Or Levy, 34

Avera Mengistu, 38

Tal Shoham, 39

Omer Shem-Tov, 22

Those on the list, to be returned over a period of 42 days, are so-called “humanitarian” cases: women, children, elderly individuals and the infirm.

Israel has not been told how many of the 33 are alive, though it expects the majority are. The identities of those set to return are expected to be provided 24 hours before each release.