First group of Hamas hostages released
A first group of hostages has been handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas. This was reported by Israeli TV stations.
A few hours after a ceasefire came into force in the war between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas, a first group of hostages abducted by Hamas was handed over to the Red Cross on Friday, according to Israeli TV stations. A four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had already come into force in the morning.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is to receive the hostages, take them across the border to Egypt and hand them over to the Israeli armed forces. Their identities will then be checked and they will be examined by doctors.
They will then be able to speak to their families on the phone, with experts present. This is important, said Siv Agmon, advisor in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Since there was no connection to the hostages, we don't know what they know". Soldiers have received handouts on how to deal with potentially traumatized children.
The report of the first hostage release was broadcast on various Israeli TV stations. The first group of hostages released were reportedly abducted by Hamas in Israel. This marked the first exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas's custody.
Source: www.ntv.de
