Israel Confirms Release of 11 Hostages from Gaza Amid Ceasefire
JERUSALEM: Israel announced on Wednesday that 11 hostages, including five Thai nationals, would be released over the next two days as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Hamas has provided a list of eight individuals set to be freed on Thursday, followed by three more on Saturday. The group scheduled for release on Thursday includes the five Thai hostages, while the three to be freed later are all Israeli men.
This development follows accusations from Hamas officials, who claimed that Israel was obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, potentially putting the fragile truce at risk.
The ceasefire deal is contingent on the exchange of Israeli hostages abducted during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, for Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons. So far, Hamas has released seven hostages, while Israel has freed 290 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement.
“Israel has received the list of hostages expected to be released from Hamas captivity tomorrow,” the prime minister’s office confirmed.
Among those set to return from Gaza on Thursday are three Israeli citizens identified as Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Moses, along with the five Thai nationals.
Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, humanitarian aid has been flowing into Gaza, providing relief to the war-torn region. However, senior Hamas officials have accused Israel of slowing the aid process, citing restrictions on crucial supplies such as fuel, tents, and heavy machinery needed for Gaza’s recovery.
