Hamas Releases First Group Of Hostages

By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The first group of Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas and taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross in ambulances from Khan Younis in southern Gaza to the Rafah crossing with Egypt in preparation for their transfer to Israel, Israeli sources said Friday.

The release of 13 hostages, including a mother and children, was the first of four expected stages, ending a grueling seven-week ordeal, Israeli media reported.

Hamas, condemned as a terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies, agreed to free about 50 hostages over the four days of the truce with Israel — all children, mothers, and other women.

Additionally, 12 Thais were released by Hamas, Egypt’s Communications Ministry said.

The negotiations between Hamas and the government of Thailand were reportedly conducted separately from the negotiations with Israel and through a different mediator – Iran, Israeli media reported.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said embassy officials were on their way to pick them up. It was previously reported that 23 Thai hostages would be freed unconditionally by Hamas in a deal mediated by Iran, according to several sources.

All hostages were to be released through the Rafah crossing into Egypt before being flown to Israel, The Jerusalem Post newspaper reported.

It cited the Egyptian Communications Ministry as saying that they were preparing for the hostages’ release at the crossing, which includes the Thais.

Yet the released hostages are only a small group out of some 240 held by Hamas since October 7, when its fighters killed 1,200 people in the worst terrorist atrocity in Israel’s recent history.

Israel was set to release 150 Palestinian prisoners held for terror offenses, all of them women and minors, in return for the 50 Israelis, officials said. It will free 39 today in return for the first 13 Israelis to return, according to Israeli sources familiar with the deal.

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