2023-11-26 05:25:15
In the evening, the Islamist Hamas handed over another group of hostages from the Gaza Strip to employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Both the terrorist organization and the Israeli military confirmed the release.
Four Germans are also free
The Red Cross brought 13 Israelis and four Thai citizens across the border into Egypt on Saturday, the Israeli military said in the evening. According to Qatar, four German dual nationals are said to be among the released Israelis.
According to their families, the four Germans who were released were a 67-year-old woman and her 38-year-old daughter and her children aged three and eight. “I’m thinking of them and those who are still in the hands of Hamas. We are working with all our might to ensure that they too will soon be free,” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on the X platform, formerly Twitter, on Sunday night .
Israel has released 39 Palestinian prisoners
Meanwhile, on the streets of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, 39 Palestinian prisoners whom Israel released from prisons in return were greeted with cheers from crowds. Hamas flags were waved, as the newspaper “The Times of Israel” reported early on Sunday and linked a corresponding video.
The released prisoners had all been convicted or charged with terrorist crimes, said Israeli army spokesman Doron Spielman on Sunday night. The fact that the freed people were celebrated under the flags of Hamas shows what kind of people they are. “It is a shame that we are releasing them,” said the army spokesman.
More hostages are expected to be released on Sunday
Following the release of the second group of Hamas hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, more hostages are set to be released from the Gaza Strip this Sunday. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early in the morning that a list had been received with the names of other hostages who were to be released on Sunday. It was not announced how many hostages there were.
Steinmeier expected in Israel
This means that around 200 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas. The currently ongoing break in fighting is expected to last at least four days. According to the agreement between Israel and Hamas, a total of 50 hostages are to be released during this period. An extension of the ceasefire to up to ten days is possible, as Qatar, which is mediating in the conflict, announced. Meanwhile, the two highest representatives of the German state – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) – are expected to pay a solidarity visit to Israel on Sunday.
Hamas delayed handing over hostages – Biden mediated
On Saturday evening, however, Hamas surprisingly stopped the release of a second group. Israel threatened to lift the ceasefire at midnight if the hostages were not released by then, according to media reports.
The radical Islamic Palestinian group accused Israel of violating the hostage agreement – including not allowing sufficient aid deliveries to the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Israel rejected this and threatened to terminate the agreement.
US President Joe Biden then intervened personally, as a spokeswoman for the US government’s National Security Council said upon request. The 81-year-old spoke on the phone on Saturday with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. In the end, Hamas gave in after Qatar intervened late on Saturday evening.
Girl believed dead is released
As a result, after 50 days of captivity, a nine-year-old Irish girl who was initially thought to be dead was released. “We cannot find words to describe our feelings after 50 difficult and complicated days. We are overjoyed to be able to hug Emily again,” said the family. Emily Hand had turned nine during her captivity, which was celebrated with a party in Dublin a week and a half ago. She was initially presumed dead after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th.
About the article: “Relief after hostage release – more to follow”
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