The main Israeli association of families of hostages in the Gaza Strip welcomed this Wednesday the agreement allowing the partial release of those held by Palestinian groups.
“At the moment we do not know exactly who will be released and when,” the association said in a statement quoted by the French agency AFP.
Still, she stated that she was “very happy about the fact that a partial release” of hostages is underway.
“This gives me hope that my daughters will return,” said Maayan Zin, 50, mother of two children held hostage in Gaza.
“If it’s not on Thursday or Friday, it will be on Sunday or Monday. That gives me hope,” he added.
On the Palestinian side in the occupied West Bank, Mohammed Ziyaadah, whose 29-year-old sister is in prison, said he was “very happy” about his expected release.
“It is an incomparable joy, we hope for the release of all prisoners.”
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club (non-governmental organization (NGO)), approximately seven thousand Palestinians are imprisoned by Israel.
The deal between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas provides for the release of 50 hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day ceasefire in the territory.
Israel has released the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released.
The approximately 240 hostages were kidnapped and taken to Gaza on October 7, when Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israeli territory that authorities say left more than 1,200 dead.
In response to the terrorist attack, Israel declared war on Hamas and launched an offensive against the Gaza Strip, which the Islamist group says has already caused more than 14,100 deaths.
Source: DN
