Nov 25: Hamas and Israel enter third day
After a delay, a group of 17 released hostages arrived in Israel after leaving Gaza in a Red Cross convoy late Saturday local time, according to the Israeli military.
The group includes 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals, Israel said.
Around the same time, 39 Palestinian detainees and prisoners were released from Israeli jails, authorities said.
Truce dispute: Obstacles that caused a delay in hostage and prisoner releases Saturday “were overcome” through mediation, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson said. Hamas said it was delaying the handover of hostages due to aid disputes and the selection of Palestinian prisoners being released.
The group said it had received fewer than half the number of aid trucks that should have come through under the deal with Israel.Latest list of hostages to be freed: Israel has received a list of hostages due to be released on Sunday and “security officials are checking the list,” according to Israel’s Prime Minister’s office.
The released hostages:
Among the Israeli hostages freed on Saturday Emily Hand, age 9, whose father Thomas initially thought she had been killed in Hamas’ attacks.
Maya Regev, 3, was taken to Soroka Hospital for treatment of a moderate injury, according to a statement from the hospital and Israel’s Ministry of Health.
Foreign nationals care:
Four Thai nationals were released by Hamas late Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces and the Thai foreign ministry said. Israel promised to provide “dedicated care” to all of them, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Saturday.
Palestinian prisoners released: Thirty-nine Palestinian detainees and prisoners — which included 33 teenage boys and six women — were released by Israel as part of the truce. Among them, 15 were serving a jail sentence and 24 were being held in administrative detention.
Humanitarian aid: The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it received 187 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent on Saturday and dispatched the largest aid convoy to Gaza City and the northern parts of the strip since Hamas’ October 7 attacks in Israel.
The UN said the convoy to northern Gaza consisted of 61 trucks. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called for increase in humanitarian aid and fuel delivered to Gaza.
Qatar’s call for truce to extend:
Qatari Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said that his country hopes to see the truce to extend beyond four days.
Detained hospital director: The Israeli military said it is still detaining the director of northern Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya. Earlier Saturday, the World Health Organization called for the legal and human rights of detained health workers to be respected.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using the hospital for combat and command purposes, which Hamas and hospital officials deny.
So far, Israel has provided limited evidence of such use, with an alleged Hamas underground network having been viewed by only some Israeli reporters.
Israel receives list of hostages for release om Sunday
Israel has received a list of hostages due to be released Sunday in accordance with an agreement signed with Hamas, according to Israel’s Prime Minister’s office.
“Security officials are checking the list” and the information has been conveyed to the hostages’ families, the office said in a statement.
The list marks what is set to be the third day of releases since a truce for a temporary pause in fighting came into effect on Friday. Under the agreement, a total of 50 hostages are expected to be freed over the four days, while Palestinian prisoners are also due to be released in waves.
Twenty four hostages — including 13 Israeli civilians and 11 foreign nationals — were freed on Friday, followed by 17 more — 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals — on Saturday.
