JERUSALEM: In a significant development amid the ongoing four-day truce between Israel and Hamas, 13 more Israeli hostages and four foreign nationals were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The Israeli army confirmed the transfer, marking the release of the third group of hostages released on the third day of the agreed-upon ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said that a total of 39 Palestinians detained by Israel are to be released from prison on Sunday. As part of agreed commitments, on the third day of the Gaza truce, “39 Palestinian civilian prisoners will be released today in exchange for the release of 13 Israeli hostages from Gaza Strip, in addition to a Russian citizen and 3 Thai citizens,” Majed Al-Ansari said in post on X, formerly Twitter.
In implementation of the commitments of the third day of the humanitarian truce agreement, 39 Palestinian civilians will be released in exchange for the release of 13 Israeli civilians from Gaza, in addition to a Russian national and 3 Thais who have already been handed over to…
— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) November 26, 2023
Under the terms of the truce, initiated after weeks of intense conflict, Hamas released a group of 13 Israeli hostages, three Thai nationals and one Russian. In reciprocation, Israel will release 39 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, from its jails. The complex exchange is part of efforts to bring a temporary pause to the hostilities and address the humanitarian situation in the region.
Nearly 15,000 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Bombardments in Gaza
Since the conflict escalated on October 7, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign and a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. So far nearly 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military violence in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reports that over 1.7 million Palestinian people have been displaced across Gaza, adding urgency to the need for a comprehensive resolution and sustained humanitarian efforts in the region.
