A Hamas-linked news site on Monday ordered Gaza residents to refrain from sharing any online information about the expected hostage releases, warning that violations would be treated as a “dangerous security breach” and that offenders would be “held to account.”
Al-Majd, which is affiliated with Hamas’s Security Information apparatus, published guidance barring residents from posting or forwarding details or images tied to the movements of the “Shadow Unit” (the Hamas military wing unit that guards hostages), the unit’s locations, or the timing and routes of transfers inside the Strip.
The notice said residents must not publish “any detail connected to the release operation.”
The directive came as sources in the Hamas terrorist organization told Saudi channel Asharq that releases would begin after 8 a.m. at three locations inside Gaza: Gaza City, central Gaza, and Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
The sources said a technical meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was held Sunday night to coordinate procedures and that the ICRC was updated on the hostages’ condition.
The humanitarian organization sent on Monday reports saying that some hostages were in serious condition, but Hostage and Missing Persons Coordinator Brigadier General Gal Hirsch denied these reports.
IDF expects hostages at 9 a.m.
The IDF expects the 20 live hostages to start arriving back to Israeli custody around 9:00 a.m. on Monday.
If the live hostages are stable, they will move from Red Cross custody to IDF special forces custody, then to the Reim base, and then to the three hospitals: Sheba, Ichalov, and Beilinson.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Sheba Medical Center on Friday to examine preparations for the upcoming release of the hostages, where he praised the readiness of the medical teams awaiting their arrival.
Additionally, Arab reports indicated that Hamas had begun collecting the remains of deceased hostages to return to Israel. However, Israel has doubts that Hamas can locate all of them, which may cause delays in the return.