One of the children expected to be released is Emily Hand, the Irish-Israeli child whose father wept with relief after erroneously being told she was killed on October 7; he felt death was "a blessing" compared to what his daughter would face being held captive by Hamas terrorists. His worst fears were realized when he learned she was indeed being held hostage in Gaza.b//

One other thing to note about the list of hostages expected to be released: There are no men on that list, and many speculate that is deliberate. By leaving husbands and fathers in captivity, the women and children who are freed may not want to speak of the atrocities they endured in order to keep the men safe. In essence, they will still be hostages of Hamas.