According to a news agency, two Hamas sources have confirmed a handover of captives to the Red Cross for return to Israel via Egypt.
A source in the military wing of Hamas confirmed the handover, adding, “This is the first group under the agreement.”
Israeli TV stations also announced that the Israeli captives have been transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza and are on their way to the crossing with Egypt.
According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the released Israeli captives met representatives of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.
However, at the moment, there is no information on the Palestinians held in Israeli jails who are also slated for release.
Nonetheless, Hamas asked Palestinians in the city of Nablus to gather and welcome the women and children who are expected to be released from Israeli prisons.
As part of a separate deal negotiated by Hamas with Qatar and Egypt, a dozen Thai nationals taken hostage by Hamas in the 7 October attacks were released.
“Egypt’s mediation efforts have yielded the release of 12 Thai hostages and 13 Israelis, including women and children, held by Hamas,” the head of the service, Diaa Rashwan, said in a statement.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin said on X he had received confirmation of their release.
“Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details should be known. Please stay tuned,” the Prime Minister added.
Later, Thailand’s foreign ministry released a statement saying that the freed Thai hostages have entered Israel via the Rafah Border Crossing.
It stated that the 12 Thais will be taken to Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), where they will be met by Embassy officials.
“They are required to be under medical supervision for a period of 48 hours, without access to outsiders,” the statement noted, adding that the ministry “will do all possible to expedite their return to Thailand.”
“The Royal Thai Government expresses its thanks to all from whom it sought assistance in securing the release of these first hostages, namely the Governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, and the ICRC. It is our deep hope that all remaining hostages will be taken care of, and will be safely released at the earliest opportunity.”
Thailand’s foreign ministry
Red Cross Confirms Operation To Facilitate Hostage Release
In a statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced that over several days, it “will transfer hostages held in Gaza to Israeli authorities and ultimately their families, and transfer Palestinian detainees to authorities in the West Bank, to be reunited with their families.”
The statement added that the organization will also bring in additional medical supplies to be delivered to hospitals in Gaza, “reinforcing the aid deliveries the ICRC has already carried out.
It noted that the parties in the conflict had agreed to the terms of the operation, but the ICRC was not part of negotiations.
“The deep pain that family members separated from their loved ones feel is indescribable. We are relieved that some will be reunited after long agony,” Fabrizio Carboni, the Regional Director for the Near and Middle East, said in the statement.
He added, “Our deep desire is for all hostages to be released, and that civilians be shielded from the pain and suffering that armed conflict brings.”
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