Hostage Release Happens After Delay
Around 12.15 am local time on November 26, representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) transferred 17 hostages via Egypt, including 13 Israelis and 4 Thai hostages, to Israeli Securities Authority and IDF Special Forces and they are making their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families, Israeli official sources. Followed by this, Israeli prison authorities said that 39 Palestinian prisoners have also been released, reported Al Jazeera.
The hostage release is part of the humanitarian truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt and United States, and this is the second day of the process.
Qatar foreign affairs ministry had said earlier that 13 Israelis and 4 foreigners were received by the ICRC and they were on their way to Rafah border.
After a delay in agreed upon hostage release process between Israel and Hamas, the prisoner-hostage exchange has resumed tonight, local time. A Qatar official said in a statement earlier that 39 Palestinian civilians will be released from prisons in exchange for the release of 13 Israeli detainees from Gaza in addition to 7 foreigners outside the framework of the agreement. The military arm of Hamas has declared a postponement in releasing the second group of captives Saturday evening, alleging that Israel has violated the terms of humanitarian truce agreement.
“After a delay in implementing the release of prisoners from both sides, the obstacles were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian communications with both sides, and tonight 39 Palestinian civilians will be released in exchange for the release of 13 Israeli detainees from Gaza in addition to 7 foreigners outside the framework of the agreement,” Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Al Ansari said.
He added that those who are going to be released from Israeli prisons will include 33 children and 6 women, while the hostages to be released from Gaza will include 8 children and 5 women, in addition to 7 foreigners.
“We reiterate our appreciation for the efforts of our partners in mediation efforts, Egypt and the United States of America, for the collaborative efforts that removed obstacles to implementing the terms of the agreement for today,” he said.
Israel”s Channel 12 reported that a delegation of Egyptian generals has arrived at the Rafah crossing, to pressure Hamas to release the second batch of hostages despite Israel”s violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Earlier, news agency Reuters quoted an officials source as saying that Qatar was in talks with Israel and Hamas to resolve the delay in captive releases “as soon as possible”.
According to the Qassam Brigades” statement on Telegram, they asserted that Israel must permit aid trucks to enter northern Gaza and adhere to agreed-upon criteria, specifically seniority, for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
This announcement comes amid tensions and logistical challenges to the truce deal. Additionally, the Red Cross has managed to deliver essential medical supplies to Al Nassr Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, while The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports Israeli gunfire hitting one of its patrols in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israeli forces reportedly injured a Palestinian outside Ofer prison, with the delay in releasing captives being described as a “logistical nightmare” by some sources.
