In a significant development, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has officially confirmed the release of 14 hostages, marking a positive step in the Israel-Hamas extended truce deal. The hostages, comprising 10 Israelis and four Thai nationals, were released by Hamas and subsequently transferred from the Gaza Strip to Egypt via the Rafah crossing under the supervision of the Red Cross.
The Times of Israel reports that as part of a separate gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hamas released two dual Russian-Israeli citizens, Yelena Trupanov and her mother, Irena Tati. This release was unrelated to the truce deal with Israel. The mother and daughter have been brought to Sheba Medical Centre after returning to Israel.
The 10 Israeli hostages released include Raz Ben Ami, Yarden Roman, Liat Atzili, Moran Stela Yanai, Liam Or, Itay Regev, Ofir Engel, Amit Shani, Gali Tarshansky, and Raaya Rotem. These individuals will be taken to a designated meeting point, where Israeli forces will verify their identities before escorting them into Israel through a side gate at the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The IDF stated, “The families of the hostages are being updated by IDF representatives with the latest available information.”
This release follows a series of hostage releases, with 50 individuals freed between Friday and Monday and an additional 10 on Tuesday night, as part of the initial truce agreement. In exchange, Israel committed to a four-day halt of military operations in Gaza and pledged to release three Palestinian security prisoners for each of the 50 hostages freed from Gaza.
Notably, Israel President Isaac Herzog is expected to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai later this week. His office stated that during the conference, Herzog aims to hold sideline meetings with global leaders to secure the release of the remaining hostages from Gaza. The discussions will focus on revealing the atrocities committed by the Hamas terror organization during the October 7 massacre and emphasizing the essential security threat that led to Israel’s intervention. Additionally, Herzog plans to highlight the steps Israel is taking to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as it continues its efforts against Hamas following the truce.
The situation continues to evolve, with diplomatic efforts and ongoing truce negotiations shaping the future of relations between Israel and Hamas.
