GAZA: Israeli prison officials say a second batch of 39 Palestinian prisoners have been released following 13 Israeli captives and four foreign nationals were set free by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. According to Arab media, crowds are welcoming 39 freed Palestinian detainees in the occupied West Bank following 13 Israeli and four Thai hostages released by Hamas left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing. The development took place as 13 Israeli captives and four foreign citizens have reached Israel after their release. The transfer on the second day of the ceasefire was delayed for several hours over Hamas’s accusations that Israel was violating the truce agreement. Prison officials in Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners, they said early Sunday, under a deal between Hamas and Israel.
39 Palestinian Prisoners Released on 2nd Day of Truce
Earlier, Arab media cited a top official of Qatar as saying that 13 Israeli captives and four foreign nationals have been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 13 Israeli captives and four foreign citizens have been handed over to the ICRC.
Similarly, the Arab media reported that Hamas’s armed wing said that it had handed over 13 Israeli and several foreign citizens to the ICRC.
The release of the captives was the 2nd under the terms of a ceasefire deal pausing the war in Gaza and had been delayed earlier following Hamas alleged Israel of violating the deal. Hamas stated that it was delaying the release of a second batch of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners until Israel obeys with a truce deal. Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group, announced a delay in the release of a second group of Israeli hostages, citing Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas stated on Saturday evening that the release would be postponed until Israel adheres to the terms of the temporary truce, particularly regarding the entry of relief supplies into the northern Gaza Strip. However, Qatar said that 39 Palestinians and 13 Israeli hostages will be freed in addition to several foreign nationals following Hamas delayed the handover, alleging Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Arab media reported.
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Spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said “the difficulties were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian” mediation and the exchange of captives is likely to take place on Saturday night”. In a statement via his social media account, he said, “Obstacles to free of prisoners were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides”.
On the first day of a four-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, 13 Israeli captives were released by Hamas Friday in exchange for 39 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Hamas also released ten Thais and one Filipino.
A total of 50 Israeli captives are to be released by Hamas over the four-day ceasefire in exchange for 150 Palestinians. Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has killed about 15,000 people mostly women and children.
