Rescued hostage Noa Argamani last night said she ‘knows what it’s like to be left behind’ as tensions simmered ahead of the planned first release of Israeli captives today.
Noa, 27, said her ‘heart breaks’ for her boyfriend Avinatan Or, 30, who is among 98 still held in Gaza, and pleaded for them to be freed.
She spoke with Israel on tenterhooks over the proposed ceasefire deal, due to come into force at 6.30am today, amid fears it could yet collapse at the last minute.
Under the agreement, Hamas is meant to be freeing three hostages today in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners and families.
Israelis were due to be told at 4pm yesterday if their loved ones were on the list. But late last night there was still no word, with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning further delays could collapse the deal.
And underlining how fragile any peace could be, Mr Netanyahu said Israel was treating the ceasefire as temporary and retained the right to continue fighting if necessary.
Tensions were high after an intercepted Houthi missile attack on Israel yesterday morning, continued bombing in Gaza and a terror attack in Tel Aviv.
One man was wounded in a stabbing before the terrorist, identified locally as Salah Yahye, 19, was shot dead.
It came as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was criticised for leading a pro-Gaza march in London yesterday.
Mr Corbyn and his former shadow chancellor John McDonnell were at the front of the march as it appeared to breach a police line imposed at Trafalgar Square. But a source said the two MPs obeyed police orders.
Neither MP was detained, but police arrested 77 people, including Chris Nineham, vice-chairman of the Stop The War Coalition.
Lord Walney, the Government adviser on political violence and disruption, said: ‘Disturbing footage of sitting MPs apparently defying police to force their way through the security line… It is completely unacceptable to risk inflaming that sensitive situation.’
Israel and Hamas signed a deal which will see 33 captives released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in the first phase, which lasts for 42 days.
The second stage requires the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to withdraw from Gaza, which they will do only if Hamas relinquishes power.
Noa, whose image went viral after featuring on The Mail on Sunday’s award-winning front page when Hamas struck in October 2023, was among those left behind in the last ceasefire before the IDF rescued her last May.
She said: ‘I know what it’s like to be left behind, watching other hostages being released. I know Avinatan is still there… my heart breaks to think he will continue to be there until the second stage of this deal.
‘It is absolutely critical we bring all the hostages home.’
A source close to the families waiting to hear if their loved ones are coming home said it is ‘absolute torture’.
Mandy Damari, the mother of British hostage Emily Damari, has pleaded with aid agencies to get medical care to those captives who must wait to be released.
Palestinian prisoners due to be freed reportedly include Ahmad Barghouti, convicted of supplying weapons for terror attacks, Ahmad al-Shibani, an Islamic Jihad commander who orchestrated a deadly bombing in 2003, and senior figure in the group Adham Younes.
Additional reporting: Abul Taher, Peter Henn and Charlie Faulkner