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Hamas is set to release 13 Israelis and 12 Thai nationals it has been holding hostage in Gaza as a truce between the Palestinian militant group and Israel takes hold.
Egyptian authorities were preparing to receive the hostages on Friday at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the chair of Cairo’s state information service said, “in preparation for their transfer to the Israeli side”.
Israeli media reported on Friday afternoon that the group had been released into Egypt, but this could not be immediately confirmed.
News of the imminent release followed the start of a four-day halt to hostilities between Israel and Hamas on Friday morning, the first since the Islamist group triggered the war with a devastating attack on Israel on October 7.
The pause in fighting, brokered by Qatar, set the stage for the staggered release of 50 women and children held by Hamas and 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Dozens of Thai workers were also seized by the militant group alongside Israelis, dual nationals and others on October 7. The release of the Thais had not previously been announced.
In another sign that the tenuous truce agreement was progressing, four tankers of fuel and cooking gas entered besieged Gaza on Friday. This was done “within the framework of the truce and the schedule for the release of the hostages”, the Israeli defence ministry said.
The deal had been structured such that both sides must abide by a sequence of events, from Israel allowing aid deliveries, Hamas releasing hostages and Israel in turn releasing prisoners, a person familiar with the situation said. This sequence must be repeated each day for the ceasefire to hold.
The families of women and children held by Hamas who are due to be released on Friday have been informed that their names are on a list for release, after 48 days of captivity.
Israel is then expected to release 39 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons — some of whom have yet to be tried or convicted — a ratio of roughly three Palestinians for every hostage from Israel.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday night that Israel would continue the war after the pause was over.
This is a developing story
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