In a bid to bring solace to grieving families after a seven-week war claiming thousands of lives, officials disclosed that Hamas fighters are gearing up to release a new set of hostages on Saturday, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Qatar, a major mediator, was anticipated to disclose the figures of prisoners and hostages to be released later on Saturday, marking the second exchange since a four-day ceasefire took effect on Friday, bringing a significant reduction in hostilities.
Israeli authorities announced the reception of a list detailing hostages to be freed but remained tight-lipped about the numbers and precise timing.
According to both Qatar, a central mediator, and an official Israeli list, Hamas released 24 hostages on the first day of the truce. Among them were 13 Israelis—women and children, including some with dual citizenship—along with 10 Thais and one Filipino.
Masked militants, clad in military fatigues and the iconic green headbands of Hamas’s armed wing, were captured in a two-minute video as they transferred hostages to Red Cross officials.
In reciprocation, Israel released 39 women and children from its prisons.
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‘It’s only a start, but so far it’s gone well,’ US President Joe Biden told reporters in Massachusetts, where he was spending the Thanksgiving holiday.
‘I think the chances are real’ for extending the truce, he said.
Biden pressed for a comprehensive effort to pave the way for a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel as a resolution to the crisis. Israeli army spokesman Doron Spielman stated that approximately 215 hostages are still present in Gaza.
‘We’re unaware, many of these cases, if they are dead or alive. We’re trying to collect intelligence,’ he said.
The captives were taken by Hamas fighters when they penetrated Gaza’s militarized border with Israel on October 7, leading to around 1,200 fatalities, as reported by Israeli figures.
Faced with the gravest attack in its history, Israel responded by launching a multifaceted campaign employing air, artillery, and naval forces to dismantle Hamas. The Gaza-based Hamas government claims a death toll of approximately 15,000.
During the ceasefire, Hamas is anticipated to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, as part of an agreement forged after discussions involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.