Topic: World News
by MPeriod
Posted 1 week ago
On Thursday, Israel released 44 Palestinian minors and two women, part of the latest exchange amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. This follows a series of negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding hostages and prisoners.
Footage from Palestinian media captured emotional scenes as the released individuals were welcomed back in Khan Younis, with family members expressing joy and relief.
These individuals were detained following the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Originally, 24 of them were expected to be released last Saturday as part of the ongoing Gaza negotiations, but their release was delayed due to tensions surrounding the handover of Israeli hostages.
On Wednesday, Hamas transferred the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages, whose identities were confirmed on Thursday. In exchange, 596 Palestinians were released overnight from Israeli prisons.
Following the identification of the four hostages, the release of the 44 minors and two women was executed on Thursday afternoon. More Palestinian prisoners are anticipated to be released soon.
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Total hostages to be released by Hamas | 33 (25 alive, 8 deceased) |
| Hostages still held in Gaza | 59 (27 believed alive) |
| Total Palestinians to be released by Israel | 1,904 |
| Expected phase end | This weekend |
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are taking place in Cairo, mediated by Egypt, the US, and Qatar. Discussions focus on further steps in the ceasefire and increasing humanitarian aid to those in Gaza.
There are reports that Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor as agreed in the ceasefire deal, with Israeli officials stating concerns over security and smuggling.
In a separate incident, a driver ran into a crowd at Karkur Junction, injuring ten people, two of whom are in serious condition. The driver, a Palestinian man, attempted to flee but was shot by police, who "neutralized" the situation. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have been killed during the incident.