Seventeen hostages held captive in Gaza since being abducted by Hamas militants in the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel were released late Saturday, following a long delay as part of the short-term cease-fire agreement brokered by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt. Another 39 Palestinian women and children detained in Israel, were also released in exchange, according to an announcement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The hostages included 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals who were released and transferred by the Red Cross across southern Gaza’s Rafah crossing into Egypt. The 13 Israeli hostages were later flown to Israel for medical evaluations and to be reunited with their families.
Nine-year-old Emily Hand, an Israeli-Irish girl who was initially believed to have been killed by Hamas, was among those freed. Another teenager, whose mother is still being held hostage, and a 21-year-old woman who was abducted from the music festival where at least 260 people were killed in Hamas’ rampage, were also released. Two teen siblings freed Saturday had lost their mother in the Hamas attack.
The hostages’ release was delayed on Saturday when Hamas accused Israel of not maintaining the cease-fire terms. The U.S. played a key role in negotiations with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to overcome obstacles and secure the hostages’ release. In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the hostages’ freedom, indicating that they would be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they made their way to hospitals in Israel and be reunited with their families after an initial medical assessment.
After an initial release of 24 Hamas-held hostages on Friday, which marked the start of a four-day cease-fire, a subsequent group of Palestinian prisoners—39 women and children—were set free. In return, the ceasefire calls for the delivery of about 200 aid trucks in Gaza daily and requires the release of approximately 50 Hamas-held hostages, all women and children. The agreement did not disclose the exact number of hostages still being held captive.
The final deal agreed upon by both sides allowed 200 trucks to enter Gaza daily during the ceasefire. However, Hamas was disappointed over the announced sequence in which Palestinian prisoners were being released, as well as the pace of aid truck deliveries. The cease-fire deal also included the 50 slated to be freed as part of the agreement, among whom were three dual national women and children who are American citizens. Up to 10 Americans remain unaccounted for and expected to be released as part of the cease-fire deal.
In another move to adhere to the agreement, Israel freed a group of 39 Palestinian prisoners on Friday — 24 women and 15 teen boys. Their release was facilitated by the Red Cross and was followed by thousands of Palestinians welcoming them after they were freed from three Israeli prisons. Israeli forces gathered outside Ofer Prison ahead of the exchange, where some Palestinians threw stones at Israeli soldiers. One Palestinian was shot and rushed into an ambulance, causing unrest around the prison.
