26-11-2023 (GAZA) Qatar, acting as a mediator, has announced that 13 Israeli hostages are set to be freed tonight in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners, marking the second phase of a delayed swap agreed upon during a temporary truce in Gaza. Additionally, seven foreigners held in Gaza will also be released, as confirmed by Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari.
The release, initially postponed, proceeded after overcoming obstacles through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides. Al Ansari shared the details on X, stating, “39 Palestinian civilians will be released tonight, while 13 Israeli hostages will leave Gaza, in addition to 7 foreigners.”
Earlier, Hamas had communicated the delay, citing the need for Israel to comply with the terms of the truce agreement before releasing the second group of Israeli hostages.
According to Al Ansari, the Israelis being released from Gaza include eight children and five women, while those released from Israeli prisons consist of 33 children and six women.
Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, received a call from US President Joe Biden discussing the “progress of implementing the humanitarian truce,” as reported by the ruler’s office.
This exchange is part of a four-day humanitarian truce in Gaza, facilitated by Qatar with support from Egypt and the United States. On the first day of the truce, 13 Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners, including 10 Thais and one Filipino.
The overall exchange involves the release of 50 Israeli hostages by Hamas in staggered releases over the four-day truce, reciprocated with the freedom of 150 Palestinian prisoners. This marks the largest release since Hamas initiated an attack on Gaza’s militarized border on October 7, resulting in the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
The conflict has been marked by significant casualties, with Israel claiming 1,200 lives, mostly civilians, in response to the initial attack by Hamas. In retaliation, Israel launched a sustained bombing campaign in Gaza, resulting in approximately 15,000 casualties, according to the Hamas government, with thousands being children.
