Hamas has decided to release twelve more hostages in captivity in exchange for Palestinian prisoners under an extended truce, as meditators have been trying to work towards a lasting half to the seven-week Israel-Hamas war.
Among the hostages released from Gaza, two were Thais, and ten were Israelis, and the army said that they were handed over to the Red Cross and were inside Israel’s territory. Later, Israel’s Prison Services commented that 30 Palestinian detainees had been released under a truce deal with Gaza.
An AFP journalist witnessed masked and armed fighters, some from Islamic Jihad and some from Hamas, hand over the hostages to Red Cross officials in Rafah, which is next to the border with Egypt.
International figures from all across the world have hailed the pause in hostilities and release of the hostages as a hope to end the conflict, which was sparked by deadly Hamas attacks that forced Israeli military forces to go on an offensive attack in the Gaza Strip.
As the two-day extension to the truce showed up to be held Tuesday, Israeli and US intelligence chiefs were present in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to talk about the “next phase” of the deal.
Israel and Hamas have been under heavy international pressure not to return to all-out fighting when the truce ends on Tuesday between both sides. The truce paused the fight, which started on 7th November 2023, when Hamas militants went over to Israel’s border killed 1,200 people, were mostly civilians, and kidnapped at least 240.
However, Israel’s retaliatory air and ground operation in Gaza has wiped out almost 15,000 people, who are mostly civilians, according to the Hamas government. Israel views the truce as a temporary measure to complete hostage releases and plans to continue its offensive against Hamas.
