GAZA CITY: Hamas has freed the first batch of captives under a cease-fire agreement that began Friday, including thirteen Israelis, who have been taken in Gaza, according to officials and media reports.
The first day of a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas saw the release of 24 hostages, including 10 Thai citizens, one Filipino citizen and 13 Israeli nationals, including women and children, according to the Egyptian government. The hostages were part of a prisoner exchange, marking a positive development as trucks carrying aid, including fuel, entered the besieged Gaza Strip.
As the ceasefire started, there were no reports of fighting, providing a temporary respite for Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian residents who have endured weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment and shortages of essential supplies. The agreement also set the stage for the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody in exchange for 13 Israeli hostages, offering hope for a brief pause in the seven-week conflict.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed that 12 Thai nationals were among those released. An Israeli official verified that the Thai captives had left Gaza and were en route to a hospital in Israel.
The truce allowed for the entry of fuel and cooking gas into Gaza from Egypt, providing some relief to the region, which has faced severe energy shortages amid Israeli bombardments. Israel agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters of fuel per day during the ceasefire, addressing a fraction of Gaza’s daily needs.
Israel Vows to Resume Offensive in Gaza After Ceasefire
While the temporary pause in hostilities brought a semblance of quiet to the conflict-stricken region, the underlying challenges remain. Israel has expressed its determination to resume its offensive once the ceasefire concludes, underscoring the fragility of the situation.
International mediators, including Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, hope that the momentum generated by the prisoner exchange and ceasefire will contribute to a broader effort to bring an end to the violence that has plagued the area for the past seven weeks.
