Hamas releases 13 Israeli, four Thai hostages after hours-long delay
Story highlights
Israel-Hamas war: Thirteen Israelis and four Thais freed by Hamas arrived in Israel under a fragile hostage deal after a dispute over aid briefly jeopardised the truce.
The release of 13 Israeli and four Thai nationals from Hamas captivity on Sunday after hours of delay ensured the continuation of the significant ceasefire and hostage deal aimed at exchanging 50 Israeli hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners. However, the fragile nature of the agreement was marked by a dispute over aid supplies that briefly threatened to derail the truce.
Television footage captured the moment when the hostages, including six women and seven children and teenagers, crossed the Egyptian side of the Rafah border after leaving Gaza.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) received the captives, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced their immediate transfer to Israeli hospitals for reunification with their families.
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In exchange for the Israeli hostages, 39 Palestinian civilians, including 33 minors, were released from Israeli prisons. Al Jazeera broadcast live scenes of cheering Palestinian prisoners on a Red Cross bus, heading to the Israeli-occupied West Bank's Beitunia town.
Historical context
The four-day truce, a rare moment of cessation in the conflict, aimed at breaking a cycle of violence that erupted with an attack on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7.
Since then, Israel has retaliated forcefully, resulting in significant casualties, particularly among Hamas ranks and Palestinian civilians.
The hostage deal faced a critical moment when the armed wing of Hamas raised concerns about aid distribution, specifically the entry of trucks into northern Gaza.
Qatar and Egypt, along with the intervention of US President Joe Biden, played pivotal roles in mediating the dispute and salvaging the agreement.
Also watch | Israel-Hamas war: Gaza cease-fire enters second day
High-stakes diplomacy unfolded as Qatari and Egyptian mediators, supported by the United States, worked to prevent the collapse of the deal.
Israel signalled its willingness to extend the ceasefire if Hamas continued releasing hostages at a specified rate.
(With inputs from agencies)
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.
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