The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they have completed preparations to receive the first group of 13 hostages to be released at 4 p.m. today from the Gaza Strip, in an operation called “Heaven’s Gate”.

Once freed from Gaza via Egypt, the hostages will be taken by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to Hajerim Air Base in southern Israel for a first reception, where they will undergo a brief physical and mental check-up, The Times of Israel reports.

According to Sky news, all hostages released by Hamas will be given noise-cancelling headphones, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Hostages Israel

As they said the headphones will make “flight easier by offering them peace and quiet”.

It appears that troops have already prepared toys to give to children, with the IDF releasing photos and videos of teddy bears, coloring books and soccer balls.

Hostages Israel

Medical teams will also be on each helicopter carrying the hostages, they said.

“The crew of the helicopter picking up the freed hostages will be instructed to carry out their mission with courtesy, modesty, patience and appropriate behavior,” it added.

“Staff will introduce themselves by name with a visible face and smile, maintain eye contact and distance to enable carers and support teams to do their jobs to the best of their ability.”

In particular, the military has also prepared psychologists and mental health specialists to receive the hostages, many of whom are expected to be children. The experts will explain to them what happened in their community on October 7, when they think the time is right.

The IDF will have phones for the hostages so they can call their relatives as soon as they arrive in Hajerim.

The freed hostages will stay up to two hours in Hajerim before being taken to the hospital, either by helicopter or minibus.

Helicopters will fly in quieter mode.

Those who need immediate medical attention will be taken directly from the border to a hospital, without going to Hajerim.

The families of the hostages are waiting in hospitals, while hotel rooms have been booked in the area.

“We have completed preparations for the reception of the freed hostages upon their return to Israel from Gaza,” the Israeli forces said in a post on the X platform (formerly twitter).

As they emphasize in coordination with government ministries and security authorities, they have prepared to quickly welcome the freed hostages and provide them with all the necessary support.

“We have prepared several locations dedicated to their initial reception, which include the necessary medical supplies. After the initial reception and medical treatment, they will continue to the hospitals where they will be reunited with their families”, they note.

Schneider Children’s Hospital recommended that the hostages remain under observation for at least 48 hours before being released home.

The same process will be conducted over the next four days for the remaining hostages to be released from Hamas captivity. Around 50 hostages – children, their mothers and other women – are set to be freed within four days as the IDF halts its military campaign to destroy Hamas in Gaza, with three Palestinian security prisoners freed in exchange for each hostage. The four-day truce could potentially be extended by an additional day for each group of 10 more hostages released by Hamas.

The IDF in a statement asks the public to “show patience and sensitivity and respect the privacy of the freed hostages and their families” and not to pass on unverified information.