Hamas releases 16 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
JERUSALEM (AP) — In a final swap for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel under the current Gaza truce, Hamas released a total of 16 hostages late Wednesday. The release of the prisoners comes as international mediators work to secure another extension to allow further exchanges and prolong the halt of Israel’s air and ground offensive.
The Israeli military confirmed that a group of 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals had been freed by Hamas and exited Gaza. In addition to these hostages, earlier in the day, two Russian-Israeli women were also released by Hamas. Israel is set to free 30 Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of the hostages, which will ultimately add up to 73 Israelis having been freed during a six-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken.
Negotiators are working to finalize the details for a further extension of the truce beyond its deadline of early Thursday. The talks are growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed, and the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers. On Israel’s side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas after the release of all the hostages. He’s said, “After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes.”
The release of hostages has come as international pressure has mounted for the continuation of the cease-fire after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that has killed thousands of Palestinians and led to a humanitarian crisis. The war began after Hamas orchestrated a deadly attack on Israel that triggered the conflict.
Prior to the recent releases, Gaza militants still hold around 20 women. According to Israeli officials, if the truce continues at the current rate, these women would be out in a few days. However, negotiations over the release of around 126 male captives are expected to be more challenging, especially concerning the potential release of several dozen soldiers.
In the midst of the conflict, violence has escalated in the West Bank as well, with Israeli troops killing two Palestinian boys during a raid on the town of Jenin. The military said its troops fired on people who threw explosives at them but did not specify if it was referring to the boys. In addition to the Palestinians killed in the West Bank, the Israeli onslaught in Gaza has led to the deaths of more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
In Gaza, the truce has brought relief from the bombardment, but residents are facing a dire situation. Entire residential blocks have been leveled to the ground, and there are thousands of missing individuals who are feared dead under the rubble. The overwhelmed U.N.-run shelters are housing more than 1 million displaced people, with many people sleeping outside in cold, rainy weather.
As the negotiations continue and international pressure mounts, the importance of securing a lasting cease-fire and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has become of utmost importance. The United States, Israel’s main ally, has been pressing for further extensions of the truce and seeking ways to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza as the situation remains incredibly dire.