Israel: Palestinian militant group Hamas has released the second batch of 17 hostages as part of the four-day temporary truce deal. Thirteen Israeli hostages and four Thai nationals were handed over to the Red Cross after the agreement nearly fell apart due to a dispute over the delivery of aid supplies into Gaza. Qatar and Egypt overcame the hurdle and maintained the truce that agreed to exchange 50 Israeli hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days.
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) shared footage of preparation being done to welcome the hostages.
“Representatives from the @ICRC just transferred 17 hostages via Egypt, including 13 Israeli and 4 Thai hostages, to ISA and IDF Special Forces, as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families. We have been preparing to welcome our people home and accompany them and their families. We remain determined to return all of our hostages home,” the IDF said on X. formerly Twitter.
Hamas freed the first batch of captives including 13 Israelis and 12 Thai nationals on Friday who have been detained in the Gaza Strip since the Oct 7 terrorist attack.
Reuters mentioned that television footage showed hostages on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing after they left Gaza. Of the 13 Israelis released, six were women and seven were children and teenagers, the report added.
Among the Palestinian prisoners released from two Israeli prisons, six were women and 33 were minors, reported Reuters citing the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
