Where are the Hostages and would it even be safe for them to be released in the current state of the country?

The hostages, according to the source, are likely in the Gaza Strip under Hamas control. Their safety upon release, however, is a complex issue. It's akin to the situation with hostages released in Afghanistan in 2001, where a seemingly positive event was tainted by the volatile environment. The hostages were freed, but the country was in a state of unrest and danger lurked at every corner. So, the safety of these hostages, even after their release, will largely depend on the overall stability of the area and the measures taken to ensure their secure extraction.