Israel said 11 hostages have been released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip late Monday, the final day of a four-day truce between the warring sides. Qatar says Israel is to release 33 Palestinians from its prisons, mostly teenagers. Hours earlier, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their truce for another two days. Monday’s releases bring the number of Israelis freed under the truce to 50, along with 19 hostages of other nationalities. So far, 117 Palestinians have been released from Israeli prisons. Roughly 240 hostages were captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. One was freed by Israeli forces and two were found dead inside Gaza. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. After the announcement by Qatar — a key mediator in the conflict, along with the United States and Egypt — Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two-day extension “under the same terms.” With the truce deal has come increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza — although aid groups say it’s still barely enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli siege and bombardment. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, roughly two thirds of them women and minors, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas. At least 77 soldiers have been killed in Israel’s ground offensive.
Quick Read
- Hostage Releases: Israel announced the release of 11 hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza, bringing the total number of Israelis freed under the truce to 50, along with 19 hostages of other nationalities. In return, Israel is set to release 33 Palestinian prisoners, mostly teenagers.
- Truce Extension: Following the hostages’ release, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced that Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their truce for an additional two days.
- Total Captives and Releases: Approximately 240 hostages were captured by Hamas during the October 7 attack in southern Israel. So far, 117 Palestinians have been released from Israeli prisons, with one hostage freed by Israeli forces and two found dead in Gaza.
- Cease-Fire Terms: Israel has proposed extending the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. Hamas agreed to the two-day extension under the same terms.
- Humanitarian Aid: Increased shipments of fuel and supplies have entered Gaza, though aid groups indicate this is still insufficient for the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.
- Casualty Figures: Over 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with roughly two-thirds being women and minors. In Israel, about 1,200 people have been killed, mostly during Hamas’s initial incursion, including at least 77 Israeli soldiers.
- French Hostages Released: Three of the hostages released were French citizens, all children, whose freedom was welcomed by France. The French government continues efforts to free five other French citizens held hostage.
- US Diplomatic Involvement: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Israel and the West Bank as part of continued diplomatic efforts in the region.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israel confirms release of 11 hostages by Hamas on fourth day of truce
Newslooks- JERUSALEM (AP)
The Israeli military says 11 hostages have been released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip late Monday
This is the fourth such release under a cease-fire deal with the Hamas military group. Israel is to free 33 Palestinian prisoners later Monday. The hostages were back on Israeli territory and undergoing initial medical checks before being reunited with their families.
The cease-fire had been set to expire early Tuesday. But Qatar, which has been mediating between the sides, said Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend the truce by two more days.
Israeli media said the hostages included two women and nine children. Two of the children are 3 years old.
200 AID TRUCKS ENTER GAZA, ISRAEL SAYS
JERUSALEM – Around 200 container trucks brought humanitarian aid into Gaza on Monday after being inspected by Israel, including a small amount of fuel, according to the Israeli military body that handles civilian affairs.
“Four containers carrying diesel fuel and four containers carrying cooking gas were transferred from Egypt to U.N. humanitarian aid organizations in the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing,” COGAT said in a statement.
The aid trucks brough “food, water, shelter equipment, and medical supplies,” the statement said.
THREE OF THE NEWLY RELEASED HOSTAGES ARE FRENCH CITIZENS
France says three of the hostages released from Gaza on Monday were French citizens, all three children.
“France welcomes the liberation of three of its children today: Eitan, Erez and Sahar,’’ the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement. ‘’They are now in security in Israel. We share the relief of their families and all those who mobilized for their freedom.’’
France thanked Egypt and the ICRC and for mediation efforts and Qatar for its ‘’decisive role’’ in the release, and said the French government is ‘’working tirelessly’’ to free five other French citizens held hostage. France’s president, foreign minister and defense minister have traveled to the region to push for the release of the hostages.
French media has identified the three children hostages as Franco-Israeli citizens Eitan Yahalomi, 12, Erez Calderon, 12, and Sahar Calderon, 16.
US SECRETARY OF STATE TO VISIT ISRAEL AND WEST BANK THIS WEEK
BRUSSELS — U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return this week to the Middle East for the third time since Israel’s war with Hamas began, a senior State Department official said Monday.
Blinken will travel to Israel and the West Bank after attending Ukraine-focused meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels and Skopje, Macedonia, where foreign ministers from NATO and the Organization for Peace and Security in Europe are gathering, the official said. The official spoke to reporters traveling with Blinken on condition of anonymity ahead a form State Department announcement.
Currently:
— As freed hostages return to Israel, details of captivity emerge.
— Elon Musk visits kibbutz attacked by Hamas.
— Qatar is the go-to mediator in the Mideast war. Its unprecedented Tel Aviv trip saved a shaky truce.
— Representatives of European and Arab countries meet in Barcelona to discuss the Israel-Hamas war.
— U.S. Navy seizes attackers who held an Israel-linked tanker.
— With antisemitism rising as the Israel-Hamas war rages, Europe’s Jews worry.
— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
