The Islamist group Hamas said Monday that eight of 33 hostages to be released from the Gaza Strip in the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Israel are dead.

David Barnea, the Mossad director, played a crucial role in determining when to show tactical flexibility to seal the deal with Hamas. While many remain unaware of the exact details of his actions.

Israel, Hamas, the US, and Qatar have officially signed the hostage deal and Gaza ceasefire in Doha, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office confirmed on Friday morning. The deal will now be presented before the security cabinet for a vote, which, however, will not occur until Saturday.

Sunday night’s ceremony was led by the synagogue’s rabbi, Benjamin Goldschmidt, and was also attended by the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon; Israel’s consul-general in New York, Ofir Akunis, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Jewish community leaders.

President Joe Biden and his top diplomats, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had sought closure during his term.

The world must not stand idly by. Now is the time to envision and work toward a future where the shadow of Hamas no longer looms over the Middle East.

Israel’s top general on Tuesday became the highest-ranking official to resign over Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, the worst security failure in the country’s history.

Tel Aviv, Israel - Recent Hamas will give the mediators on Friday the names of the four hostages who will be released on Saturday, according to Palestinian newspaper, Al-Quds, on Thursday. Citing Hamas West Bank chief Zaher Jabarin,

The Israeli delegation includes officials from the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and Shin Bet security agency, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi says he takes personal responsibility for security breaches associated with the attack.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday named Ilan Rom, a longtime intelligence official, as the Finance Ministry's director general.

Simultaneously, Israeli officials are awaiting a list of all surviving hostages set to be freed in the first stage of the deal. However, preparations are underway for the possibility that Hamas may withhold the names and only provide the number of surviving hostages instead.