Middle East conflict - On the last day of the ceasefire: Six Hamas hostages arrive in Israel
The hostages released by the Islamist Hamas on Thursday evening have arrived in Israel. The six Israelis were on their way to a medical examination and would then meet their families in hospitals, the military announced. According to information from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the hostages were four women as well as an 18-year-old girl and her 17-year-old brother. The two Arab-Israeli siblings had been kidnapped from a Bedouin town in the south of the country.
Two Israeli women were also released in the afternoon. It was initially unclear whether further hostages were expected to be released. According to media reports, a total of ten Israeli hostages were originally due to be released by Hamas on Thursday.
According to a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Israel is to release 30 Palestinian prisoners in return during the night. "Under the terms of the 7th day of the humanitarian pause agreement, 30 Palestinians will be released today in exchange for the release of 10 hostages in Gaza. The 2 Russian citizens released yesterday are included in this list," wrote Majid al-Ansari on X, formerly Twitter. On Wednesday, he had announced that the two Russian citizens, who also hold Israeli passports, would be released in addition to the steps agreed in the agreement between Israel and Hamas. Qatar is mediating between the warring parties.
Will Israel and Hamas extend the ceasefire?
It was also unclear whether the ceasefire, which was due to end on Friday morning according to previous agreements, would be extended once again. According to unconfirmed reports, talks about an extension are taking place in the background.
According to the original agreement between the warring parties, the ceasefire could be extended for a maximum of up to ten days to allow for the further release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. As the ceasefire began on Friday morning, it could in principle last until Monday morning. However, it was unclear whether Hamas is able and willing to release ten more hostages per day, as demanded by Israel.
Terror attack by Hamas
The latest Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, committed by terrorists from the Gaza Strip on October 7 in Israel near the border. More than 1200 people were killed. Around 240 hostages were taken to Gaza, including several Germans.
Israel responded with massive air strikes, a blockade of the Gaza Strip and began a ground offensive at the end of October. According to Hamas, almost 15,000 people were killed in the process. More than 36,000 were injured. The figures cannot currently be independently verified.
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- The truce between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar, allows for the potential release of 30 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, as stated by Majid al-Ansari from the Qatari Foreign Ministry.
- The hostages released by Hamas on Thursday include four women and an 18-year-old girl and her 17-year-old brother, who were earlier kidnapped from a Bedouin town in Israel.
- The Middle East conflict has been a source of tension in the region for years, with Hamas often playing a significant role, such as in the latest Gaza war triggered by a terror attack near the Israeli border, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.
- The Red Cross, a neutral humanitarian organization, has been actively involved in facilitating the release of hostages and ensuring the safe return of civilians in the Middle East conflict, including during the current ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
- Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has announced that six hostages have arrived in Israel, following the release by Hamas, and that they are en route to hospitals to meet with their families.
- The militant group Hamas has been a long-standing adversary of Israel and a major player in the Middle East conflict, known for its history of conflict, terrorism, and radical ideologies, as well as its support for Palestinian rights and self-determination efforts.
- The ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, while providing a temporary respite from violence in Gaza, has yet to be extended beyond its initially proposed end date, leaving the future of peace talks and conflict resolution in the Middle East uncertain.
Source: www.stern.de
