Hamas is set to free three more Israeli hostages as well as five Thai captives, and Israel is to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli authorities announced Wednesday that they had arrested 12 Palestinians in East Jerusalem for celebrating the release of prisoners over the weekend under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. The arrests were made late Tuesday following the circulation of videos earlier in the week,
Both the Trump and Biden administrations have publicly claimed credit for pushing the agreement over the line.
Hamas released four Israeli hostages in Gaza early Saturday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released later in the day. It was the second release to occur as part of the ceasefire agreement that began last weekend. Israel followed with the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel is set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement with Hamas, including 30 children and renowned resistance leader Zakaria Zubeidi. This release is part of a larger prisoner exchange initiative aimed at easing tensions between Israel and Palestinian factions.
The fragility of the truce between Israel and Hamas was laid bare on Saturday, after Israel accused Hamas of withholding a hostage, prompting a halt in the movement of Gazan civilians back to their homes in the north.
Much of the beleagured city of Goma was calm early Wednesday morning, after a day during which thousands of fleeing people hunkered down by roadsides as missiles flew and injured people streamed to overwhelmed hospitals.
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society says that 110 Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons today in the third phase of a ceasefire and captive exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. Eight captives will also be released by Hamas and other Palestinian groups, including five Thai nationals and three Israelis.
Wealthy Arab nations consider bankrolling Gaza’s reconstruction, but they want assurances Palestinians will lead in the postwar period.
Latest news and live updates on the Gaza ceasefire deal as four female hostages are set to be released. The hostages are all Israeli soldiers.