The Israeli Army reported this Wednesday early afternoon that Hamas began to release 12 more hostages in the Gaza Strip, as part of the agreement between both parties that entered its sixth day this Wednesday and expires on Thursday.
The Army indicated, according to the Associated Press, that the first two hostages were transferred to Egypt on Wednesday night and that the other ten would be released soon.
In exchange, Israel must release 30 Palestinian prisoners, 15 women and 15 children.
Hamas announced this Wednesday afternoon the release of two Russian women hostages, but outside the framework of the truce agreement negotiated with the mediation of Qatar, the United States and Egypt.
With the aim of prolonging the truce, the mediating countries are redoubling their efforts and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold talks on Thursday in Israel and the West Bank.
“We would like this pause to be prolonged,” Blinken said before his departure to Brussels. This extension “means more hostages returning home and more aid” for the Gaza Strip.
After a first extension of the truce until Thursday at 07:00 local time (05:00 Lisbon time), a source close to Hamas told France-Presse that the group agreed to extend it for another four days and release new Israeli hostages. under the current agreement and on the same conditions”, but no understanding has yet been confirmed.
So far, under the agreement, Hamas has freed 81 hostages – 61 Israelis and 20 foreigners – while Israel has handed over 180 Palestinians, all women and children.
The war began on October 7, when the Islamist group Hamas, considered terrorist by the European Union and the United States, attacked Israel by surprise, killing more than 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities, and also taking more than 200 hostages.
In retaliation, Israel declared war on Hamas and began daily bombing of the Gaza Strip, where it launched a ground invasion, in addition to blocking the entry of essential goods such as water, fuel and medicine.
Until the start of the truce, Israeli army attacks in the Gaza Strip had killed more than 14,000 people, according to Hamas.
Source: TSF
