According to Israeli sources, Hamas handed over to the Red Cross the group of 13 hostages who were due to be released on Sunday before their departure from the Gaza Strip. A senior Israeli official said that “no delay is expected today in the release of the third group of hostages.” This came after Hamas yesterday delayed the release of the hostages, saying Israel had not complied with the terms of the ceasefire.
The terrorist group had previously announced that it had also released a hostage of Russian nationality “in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin” and three other foreigners.
The announcement was shared on Hamas’ official Telegram page, followed by another announcement from its armed wing, the Al-Qasam Brigades, saying that the person who has been living in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel who were held captive, have already been handed over to the Red Cross.
Israeli media stressed that the hostage had dual Russian-Israeli nationality and that this was an additional release to the release scheduled for today, which will mark the third consecutive day of exchanging hostages for prisoners, parallel to a temporary ceasefire and the Arrival of humanitarian aid aid for Gaza. As Hamas emphasized in the statement, this publication was also made “in gratitude for the Russian stance of supporting the Palestinian cause.”
Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that “the ceasefire is taking place without road checks” and that 120 aid trucks drove from Egypt to Gaza on Sunday, including two fuel trucks and two cooking gasoline.
Shortly before this announcement, the director of Egypt’s State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, reported that his government had received the list of 13 hostages released this Sunday by the Islamist group and that of 39 Palestinian prisoners held in prisons. These are Israelis who will be released.
The Egyptian official noted that the four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect last Friday, has continued for “the third day without any obstacles” thanks to “remarkable efforts” by Egypt and Qatar, which act as mediators between the parties . .
Yesterday, the Islamist group delayed the exchange, claiming, among other things, that humanitarian aid had arrived in the northern Gaza Strip in “quantities far lower than agreed” and accused Israel of failing to meet the seniority criterion of released prisoners.
COGAT, a military organization that manages civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, announced this Sunday the entry of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border, explaining that the aid consists of of food, water, shelter and medical supplies is intended “for international organizations” operating in the enclave.
Shortly thereafter, the same organization reported that Hamas had set up a checkpoint and “blocked trucks carrying humanitarian aid to residents of the northern Gaza Strip.”
Thanks to mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, Israel and Hamas agreed this week to exchange a total of 50 hostages for 150 prisoners during a four-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that began on Friday and continues despite the delay on Saturday.
The ceasefire can be extended if Hamas agrees to hand over at least 10 prisoners per day, according to its pact with Israel.