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26-11-2023
JERUSALEM/ GAZA CITY/ DOHA: Crowds have met 39 freed Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank after 13 Israeli and four Thai captives released by Hamas left Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
The exchange on the second day of the four-day truce was delayed for hours over Hamas’s allegations that Israel was violating the truce deal while families in Gaza returned to find their homes in ruins.
The Palestinian Red Crescent says the Israeli army has besieged two hospitals in the occupied West Bank amid a night of deadly Israeli raids.
More than 14,800 Palestinians, including 6,150 children, have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll from Hamas’s attack stands at 1,200.
Israel has now released 78 Palestinian prisoners, including the 39 freed on Friday and 39 freed late on Saturday, as the temporary truce agreement and prisoner-captive exchanges continue but Israel has also continued to arrest more Palestinians in daily raids on the occupied West Bank, even as it releases others.
On Saturday, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said at least 17 Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank after the first release of prisoners.
Even after the releases, more than 8,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli custody, including more than 2,200 administrative detainees held without charge or trial.
Emily Hand and Hila Rotem, who were among eight children freed by Hamas on Saturday, have been reunited with their families.
Footage posted on social media showed Emily, 9, running into the arms of her father, Thomas, and 13-year-old Hila Rotem being embraced by her uncle.
In a statement, Emily Hand’s family said they “can’t find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days”.
“We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem (Hila Rotem’s mother) and all the hostages who have yet to return. We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home. We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us during the last 50 days until Emily’s return. We appreciate the unwavering support as we continue our efforts for the safe return of all.”
Israel says at least 237 people were captured by Hamas during the group’s October 7 attacks. The captives are from at least 40 different countries and included at least 20 Thai farm workers.
It is not clear how many captives remain but we do know that 41 have now been released as part of the prisoner-captive exchanges on the first two days of a temporary truce.
They include; 26 Israeli nationals, including 13 released on Friday and 13 released late on Saturday.
Four Thai nationals who were freed on Saturday as well as 10 Thai nationals and one citizen from the Philippines freed on Friday.
We also know that previously Hamas released four people, two Israeli citizens and two US citizens.
Israel says it rescued an Israeli soldier.
Hamas said 50 captives had been killed in Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip
Israel said the bodies of two female captives were recovered near the Al-Shifa Hospital complex. (Int’l News Desk)
