According to the Israeli army, 14 Israeli hostages and three foreigners were handed over to the ICRC
Seventeen hostages, including 14 Israelis, held in the Gaza Strip for seven weeks, were released on Sunday on the third day of a truce between the Palestinian movement Hamas and Israel, which is to release 39 Palestinian prisoners in exchange in the evening.
Among them is a four-year-old girl with American nationality, Abigail, welcomed American President Joe Biden.
A Russian-Israeli, who is not part of the exchange agreement and whose release was negotiated directly by Moscow, was also released according to Hamas “in response” to the Russian president’s “support for the Palestinian cause.” Vladimir Poutine.
These releases, announced by the Israeli army, bring to 58 the total number of hostages held in Gaza released since Friday, including 18, the vast majority Thais, not affected by the agreement.
On Sunday, long international aid convoys continued to enter from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, which was relentlessly shelled until Friday by the Israeli army in retaliation for the bloody attack launched by Hamas against Israel on the 7th. october.
The truce concluded under the aegis of Qatar, with the support of the United States and Egypt, offers respite to the Gazans. But the humanitarian situation in the territory is “dangerous” and the needs “unprecedented”, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Sunday.
“Until victory”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the Gaza Strip on Sunday, affirmed that the Israeli offensive there will continue “until victory.” His presence is a first for a head of government since the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the territory in 2005.
“We are doing everything we can to recover the abductees, and we will eventually recover them all,” he promised.
According to Israeli authorities, 1,200 people, the vast majority civilians, were killed during the October 7 attack, and around 240 were kidnapped.
In retaliation, Israel promised to “eliminate” Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel, bombing the Palestinian territory and launching a ground offensive on October 27.
Three Palestinians for one Israeli
According to the Hamas government, 14,854 people, including 6,150 under the age of 18, were killed by Israeli strikes. Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassel estimated Sunday that 7,000 people were also missing.
Israel released 78 Palestinian prisoners on Friday and Saturday, and is to release 39 on Sunday, respecting a ratio of one hostage to three prisoners under the agreement.
This agreement provides for a total exchange of 50 Hamas hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners during the four days of this truce, which can be extended.
Beyond the first four days, the release of “ten additional hostages will lead to an additional day of break,” Israel said.
Around 7,000 Palestinians are incarcerated in Israeli prisons, according to the Prisoners’ Club, a Palestinian NGO defending prisoners.