Israel has been given a list of hostages to be released from Gaza on Saturday by Hamas, following the release of 24 hostages the previous day as part of a planned four-day truce. The Israeli government is reviewing the list, with a promise to work for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas in an attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
This break in fighting marks the first truce between the two sides, with both parties agreeing to resume hostilities once the truce ends. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed optimism that the truce could be extended.
The released hostages, including Israeli women and children, along with Thai farm workers, were transferred from Gaza to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, then taken to Israel for medical checks and reunions with relatives.
Qatar, acting as a mediator for the truce deal, mentioned the release of 13 Israelis, along with 10 Thais and a Philippine national who were farm workers employed in southern Israel when they were seized.
In addition, 39 Palestinian women and children, some convicted or detained on suspicion of weapon charges and violent offenses, were released from Israeli jails. Biden stressed the critical opportunity to get humanitarian aid into Gaza during the pause in fighting.
Aid groups have utilized the truce to evacuate patients and health workers from some northern hospitals that have been severely impacted by the attacks and lack of fuel.
The families of the hostages expressed mixed emotions, with fear for those left behind. Some hostages who were released confounded their relatives, who thought they had been killed in the Hamas attack seven weeks ago, creating a sense of relief.
The release of the hostages was met with mixed emotions in Israel, with some expressing excitement and joy for the families who were reuniting with their loved ones, while others voiced concerns for those who were not among the released hostages.
Since the October attack, the Palestinian health authorities reported that Israel had killed approximately 14,000 people in the Hamas-ruled enclave, with hundreds of thousands of Gaza’s 2.3 million people fleeing their homes.
Following medical checks, the released hostages were reunited with their families and appeared to be in good physical condition. These released hostages were exchanged for 24 jailed Palestinian women and 15 teenagers, some convicted of weapon charges and violent offenses.
The ceasefire and exchange of hostages shed light on the complex and multifaceted nature of the Israel-Hamas conflict, amplifying global concern for the humanitarian situation in the region.
