Tel Aviv [Israel], November 26 (ANI): After a long delay, 17 hostages have been released by the Hamas terror group and sent to Egypt, according to The Times of Israel.
Reportedly, the Red Cross has handed these hostages to Egypt, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

As per the details, the hostages include 13 Israeli citizens and four Thais, reported The Times of Israel on Sunday. The convoy carrying the hostages will head to the Kerem Shalom crossing, where Israeli officials will verify the list of names. “IDF representatives are updating their families regularly,” the IDF adds.

Meanwhile, some of the families of these hostages have begun to identify and confirm the identities of these hostages who are on their way to Israel. The hostages include a 12-year-old girl named Hila Rotem, who was abducted by Hamas terrorists with her mother, Raya Rotem, 54, who was not released, according to The Times of Israel.

Another hostage Emily Hand, 9, was initially thought to have been among those killed in the attack on Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. Emily was at a sleepover at a friend’s house on the Kibbutz when she was abducted. Noam Or, 17 and Alma Or, 13, were also taken hostage by Hamas terrorists from their home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, alongside their father, Dror Or, 48, and their cousin, Liam Or, 18. Meanwhile, their mother, Yonat Or, was killed in the attack.

However, Dror and Liam are assumed to remain hostages in Gaza, reported The Times of Israel.
Moreover, according to The Times of Israel, most of the Israeli hostages are believed to have been abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri. Earlier, the Hamas terror group announced that it had handed over 20 hostages, including 13 Israelis and seven foreigners, to the Red Cross, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI)

13 Israelis, 7 foreigners held in Gaza to be released shortly: Qatar’s foreign ministry

Tel Aviv [Israel], November 26 (ANI): After a long delay in the release of the second group of hostages by Hamas, eight Israeli children and five women are expected to be released shortly from Gaza, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry, reported The Times of Israel. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, added that seven foreign nationals, who were among the over 230 people held hostage by Hamas, will also be released.

According to the Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the Palestinian prisoners to be released in this phase by Israel include 33 minors and six women, The Times of Israel reported. “We reiterate our appreciation to our mediation partners–Egypt and the United States–for the joint efforts that removed obstacles to implementing the terms of the agreement for today,” al-Ansari added.

Moreover, Israel Defence Force Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that there is “significant progress” in the efforts to release the hostages from the Gaza Strip. “The effort to return the hostages is our moral and ethical duty. We are determined to fulfil this in any way,” Hagari said in a press conference, reported The Times of Israel.

“The effort tonight is progressing and we will inform the families and the public when things happen. Patience is required,” he added, “There is significant progress.” Hagari further said, “Nothing is final until it actually happens,” as Israel is indirectly negotiating with an “evil terror group.”

“We will return the hostages in any way, through the deal, or through the next stages of the war,” he said while responding to a question. “If the agreement is not fulfilled, we will go back to fighting,” he added.

After the announcement made by the Qatar foreign ministry, US President Joe Biden spoke with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and urged him to act to overcome the Hamas delay in implementing the hostage deal. According to the latest development, over 100,000 people are participating in rallies in Tel Aviv, calling for the return of all the hostages in Gaza, as the second batch was supposed to be released on Saturday afternoon. Notably, on the first day of the temporary truce, 24 hostages were released, predominantly Israeli and Thai citizens. (ANI)