The Palestinian armed group Hamas has launched 24 hostages held captive by the group in Gaza for nearly seven weeks, in accordance with Qatar’s overseas ministry and the Worldwide Crimson Cross (ICRC), hours after an Israel-Hamas truce mediated by Qatar got here into impact.
Among the many captives launched have been 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino citizen, Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson of the International Ministry in Qatar, stated on Friday.
The ICRC in Israel and the occupied territories stated that it transported the group of captives from Gaza to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
“We’re relieved to verify the secure launch of 24 hostages,” the ICRC wrote on X, previously Twitter.
The discharge of the 24 captives — out of the roughly 240 taken hostage by Hamas throughout an assault on southern Israel on October 7 — comes after a deal between Israel and Hamas, which features a four-day truce and change of captives for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, took impact.
The Israelis hostages have been again in Israeli territory the place they might endure medical checks earlier than being reunited with their households, the military stated.
They included 4 youngsters and 6 aged ladies, an inventory issued by the Israeli prime minister’s workplace confirmed.
“Our residents underwent an preliminary medical examination and their households have been knowledgeable by the appointed officers that they have been again,” the assertion reads.
In a video recording, Netanyahu additionally stated that his authorities is dedicated to the return of all remaining hostages.
Qatar stated 39 Palestinian ladies and youngsters detained in Israeli jails have been launched as a part of the deal.
Israeli forces fired tear gasoline at a crowd of Palestinians who had gathered for the discharge of the prisoners exterior Ofer jail within the occupied West Financial institution.
The ICRC confirmed that its groups have been facilitating the discharge and switch of hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian detainees.
“The deep ache that members of the family separated from their family members really feel is indescribable. We’re relieved that some can be reunited after lengthy agony,” stated Fabrizio Carboni, the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross’s regional director for the Close to and Center East.
In keeping with the deal mediated by Qatar, Hamas will launch 50 ladies and youngsters, from about 240 individuals taken captive by the group throughout its assault on southern Israel on October 7.
In change, Israel will launch a complete of 150 Palestinian ladies and youngsters held in Israeli prisons, whom Palestinians have lengthy characterised as victims of an Israeli occupation that sweeps them into prisons with little pretence of due course of.
The captives taken by Hamas on October 7 embody Israeli troopers and civilians, in addition to individuals from dozens of overseas nations. In each Israel and overseas, the households of these held captive have pleaded for his or her launch.
Qatar’s al-Ansari stated that the ten Thai nationals and Filipino citizen have been freed exterior the framework of the truce deal.
Earlier on Friday, Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated 12 Thai nationals assist captive in Gaza had been launched.
“It has been confirmed by the safety facet and the Ministry of International Affairs that 12 Thai hostages are already launched,” he posted on X.
In keeping with Thailand’s overseas ministry, about 30,000 Thais have been employed in Israel, primarily within the nation’s agricultural sector, on the time of the assault, during which at the least 32 Thai staff have been killed. Thais looking for work abroad usually come to Israel underneath an association during which they’re paid minimal wage of about $2,000 a month.