14 other hostages are to be released this afternoon. Yesterday, 24 hostages (13 Israelis, ten Thais and one Filipino) arrived in Israel via Egypt. And 39 Palestinians detained in its prisons were able to return to the West Bank.
24 Hamas hostages returned to their loved ones. The relief was palpable after this first release operation which went off without a hitch.
A list of 14 other hostages is in the hands of Israeli authorities. They are to be released this Saturday afternoon. And among them, there would be a larger number of children according to the Israeli channel Channel 12.
Yesterday, relief also broke out in the West Bank with the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners. 15 minors and 24 women were reunited with their loved ones. Among them, Marah Bakeer, who was arrested in 2015 at the age of 16:
“Yes, I am happy, but at the same time, what is very painful for me is that the price of our freedom is the blood of those who were killed in Gaza. We hope that they are in a better world and that the war will soon end.
Wishful thinking, because the Israeli army has warned that after the humanitarian truce, the fighting will resume. Israel’s objective remains the same: destroy Hamas and prevent another October 7.
Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army:
“During the days of truce, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) complete preparations and stand ready for the next phases of the war. IDF troops are ready in all theaters of operations. Our policy is clear: we will act against any threat to the State of Israel.
The ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, but Israel’s two other rival groups pledge to respect the truce if they are not attacked.
This is Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian armed group which also operates from the Gaza Strip and which has also held hostages since October 7. And Hezbollah, a Lebanese group linked to Iran and Hamas. On Thursday, before the truce, fighting intensified on the border between Israel and Lebanon, but since then, the truce has been respected,
Additional sources • AFP, AP