According to the Israeli army and Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qasam Brigades, the Red Cross received this Sunday 17 hostages released by the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including 14 Israelis and three Thais.
Among the released Israelis is one who has Russian nationality and was released as a gesture by Hamas to the Russian government, parallel to the hostage-for-prisoner exchange agreement under which 39 Palestinians are expected to be in Israeli prisons as of Sunday.
Hamas delayed the hostage exchange
Yesterday, Hamas delayed the hostage 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 by releasing yesterday’s 39 Palestinian prisoners.
The Islamist group also accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by shooting two Gazans as they tried to visit their homes in the north of the enclave, taking advantage of the lull in fighting.
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.
