The missing children that Israel hopes will be released in Hamas deal

The father of Emily Hand, who holds Irish and Israeli citizenship, spoke in a moving press conference at the Israeli embassy earlier this week amid reports that the Irish government is pushing for her release, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying her release was a “major priority."

In the early hours of Wednesday - Israel's war cabinet approved a deal with the Hamas terrorist group to release up to 50 hostages in exchange for a four-day ceasefire and the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners, some guilty of terrorism, shortly before 3 am on Wednesday morning.  

Foreign minister Eli Cohen told the IDF's Galatz radio that the process of transferring hostages from Gaza to Israel will begin tomorrow, though he did not specify what time. The hostages will likely be released in groups, with Hamas having agreed to release 12 to 13 hostages each day in exchange for 150 to 300 female and teenage Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Israeli officials have cautioned that while these names are on Israel's list, their safety is not guaranteed, and it is not known if all are being held by Hamas or how many are still alive after nearly six weeks in Gaza.

 The full list of child hostages believed to be held in Gaza:

• Emily Hand, 9 

• Hila Rotem-Shoshani, 13

• Yahel Korngold, 3

• Yagil Yaakov, 13

• Kfir Bibas, 9 months

• Sahar Kalderon, 16

• Liri Albag, 18

• Mia Leimberg, 17 

• Nave Shoham, 8 

• Noam Avigdori, 12

• Noga Weiss, 18

• Ofir Engel, turned 18 in captivity

• Ofri Brodutch, 10

• Uriya Brodetz, 5

• Or Yaakov, 16

• Tal Goldstein-Almog, 9

• Yuval Brodetz, 8

• Yuval Engel, 11 

• Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17  

• Ariel Kfir, 4  

• Avigail Idan, 3

• Alma Or, 13

• Aviv Katz Asher, 2 

•  Emilia Aloni, 5

• Dafna Eyakim, 15 

• Amit Shani, 16 

• Raz Katz, 4  

• Noam Or, 17  

• Eitan Yaholomi, 12 

• Ella Elyakim, 8  

• Emma Cunio, 3 and her twin, Yulie, both 3 

• Gal Goldstein-Almog, 11  

• Erez Kalderon, 12 

• Mika Engel, 18 

• Liam Or, 18 

• Aisha al-Zayadna, 17

• Gali Tarshansky, 13

• Ohad Mundar, 8