The fifth batch of hostages released from the Gaza Strip has arrived in Israel, according to statements from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) press service cited by TASS. The IDF press office confirmed that special units of the army and the General Security Service are currently with the 12 individuals freed in this phase, guiding them to safety and medical assessment. After an initial medical check, the released hostages will be transported to Israeli hospitals with military accompaniment and will be reunited with their families as arrangements permit.
On November 28, a spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari, announced that Israel would release 30 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 10 Israeli hostages. He indicated that the exchange was expected to occur on November 28. The Qatari official noted that the fifth group of Palestinian detainees to be released would comprise 15 women and 15 children or adolescents. In the same briefing, Hamas, the Palestinian faction, signaled that a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza might be extended by up to two additional days in the near term.
Earlier, Qatari diplomats had stated that Hamas planned to release 20 more hostages in exchange for a two-day ceasefire. They also mentioned that lists of prisoners to be released had been provided to both Hamas and Israel, though the Ministry did not specify the total number of captives remaining in Gaza.
Meanwhile, there is ongoing discussion in the United States about the broader conflict in the Middle East, with observers noting a stark moral divide in the region’s crisis. The situation continues to develop as negotiations, humanitarian considerations, and security concerns intersect across the involved parties. The latest exchanges and ceasefire discussions are shaping the immediate humanitarian landscape and potential future arrangements for detainees on all sides.