Palestinian militant group Hamas has released at least 24 hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip for nearly seven weeks. In turn, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners hours after a Qatar-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas took effect.
Those released included 13 Israelis, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, said on Friday.
It is noteworthy that, according to Reuters, “about 12 Thai hostages” were released, respectively, we can talk about 26 people released by Hamas.
Currently watching
ICRC representatives in Israel and the occupied territories said they had transported a group of prisoners from the Gaza Strip to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
“We are relieved to confirm the safe release of 24 hostages,” the ICRC wrote on Network X, formerly known as Twitter.
Exchange of detainees between Israel and Hamas
The release of 24 hostages – out of about 240 taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel – came after an agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect calling for a four-day truce and the exchange of prisoners for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
The Israeli captives have returned to Israeli territory, where they will undergo medical examinations before being reunited with their families, the army said.
They included four children and six elderly women, according to a list published by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.
“Our citizens underwent an initial medical examination, and their families were informed by designated officials that they had returned,” the statement said.
In a video, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was committed to seeking the return of all remaining captives.
Want to rest? Come to Facti.GAMES!
Qatar said 39 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons were released as part of the deal. Israel confirmed that 39 prisoners were released.
Kadura Fares, who heads the non-governmental organization Palestinian Prisoners' Club, said 33 prisoners released in the West Bank had been handed over to the ICRC team. According to him, the remaining six people were released from the Jerusalem prison.
Under the deal brokered by Qatar, Hamas will release 50 women and children out of some 240 captured during the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.
In exchange, Israel will release a total of 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.
Among the captives captured by Hamas on October 7 are Israeli soldiers and civilians, as well as residents of dozens of foreign countries. Both in Israel and abroad, families of captives are campaigning for their release.
Citizens of Thailand and the Philippines are also on the lists
Qatari spokesman Al-Ansari said 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino national were released outside the truce agreement.
Earlier on Friday, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thaweesin said 12 Thai citizens who provided assistance in Gaza had been released.
“The security side and the Foreign Ministry have confirmed that 12 Thai hostages have already been released,” he wrote on the X website.
According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, at the time of the attack, which killed at least 32 Thai workers, about 30,000 Thais were working in Israel, mostly in the country's agricultural sector. Thais looking for work abroad often come to Israel under work agreements.
