On Tuesday, an announcement was made that ten Israeli hostages and two Thai nationals were released by Hamas and transported into Israeli territory as part of the fifth day of a prisoner exchange agreement paired with a temporary ceasefire. The release marks a continuation of a deal that aims to swap prisoners for hostages while maintaining a pause in fighting. The information aligns with updates provided by international humanitarian organizations and official security briefings, reflecting ongoing negotiations and the humanitarian corridors established for the process.
The Red Cross reported that twelve hostages in total—ten Israelis and two foreigners—were captured and are now being brought back into Israel. The Israeli military confirmed the return, noting that the hostages were moving toward Israeli soil as part of the ongoing exchange operation.
The Prime Minister’s Office clarified that the two foreign hostages were Thai citizens and that the Israeli captives in this round were all women. The military spokesperson added that the released hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza, then transferred first to Egypt and subsequently to Israeli troops.
After the first health check, the freed captives were taken to a courthouse for preliminary processing and later moved to Israeli medical facilities where medical teams would evaluate their condition and begin reunification with family members.
30 Palestinian prisoners were released
Under the terms of the agreement with Hamas, Israel is preparing to release a further group of 30 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas stated that fifteen of those released today would be women and fifteen would be children, highlighting the gender and age mix anticipated in this phase of the exchange.
In a note from relatives linked to the hostages, two of the freed individuals who were identified carry dual Argentine-Israeli citizenship: Ofelia Roitman, aged 77, and Gabriela Leimberg, aged 59. The releases are unfolding on the fifth consecutive day of operations designed to swap hostages for prisoners within the scope of the temporary ceasefire. This ceasefire had been extended by a two-day agreement reached the day before, allowing for a continued rhythm of exchanges.
Since Friday, Hamas has released a total of 60 Israeli hostages as part of the arrangement, along with 21 foreigners, among them a person with dual Russian-Israeli citizenship. Additional releases are anticipated as the plan progresses, with reports indicating that 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed at different stages, and a further group of women and children is expected to be released between today and tomorrow.
The accord has been mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, with ongoing discussions to extend the ceasefire and widen the scope of the exchanges. Efforts to secure a longer pause in the conflict have continued through Tuesday, as negotiators weigh security guarantees, humanitarian access, and monitoring mechanisms for both sides.
The conflict period began with Israel declaring war on Hamas on October 7 after a surge of attacks by the Islamist group. The assault involved thousands of rockets and incursions, resulting in significant casualties and thousands of people displaced. The Israeli side has reported substantial casualties and ongoing searches for missing individuals. In response, Israeli air, naval, and ground forces have conducted operations across Gaza. Palestinian authorities report higher casualty figures and emphasize the heavy impact on civilians, including many children and women. As the fighting persists, both sides have faced mounting humanitarian concerns, calls for evacuation corridors, and demands for accountability in reporting casualties and missing persons.
International observers continue to monitor the situation, urging adherence to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians. The exchange program and ceasefire extensions are seen as a fragile but essential window for delivering aid, allowing families to hope for reunions and for humanitarian aid to reach those in need on both sides of the border. — Reuters