A group of 24 hostages — including 13 Israelis and a number of Thais — were released from the Gaza Strip on Friday, as a breakthrough deal between Israel and Hamas to pause fighting took hold after weeks of secretive diplomacy.
Thirteen Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross, a regional diplomat with knowledge of the situation told NBC News. An Israel Defense Forces source and a source in the Egyptian government also confirmed they were released and transferred to Egypt.
Later, the IDF said in a statement that they “underwent an initial medical assessment inside Israeli territory.” Soldier would then accompany them to hospitals “where they will be reunited with their families.”
Those freed included Doron Katz-Asher, 34, and her two young daughters, Aviv, four, and two-year-old Raz, according to list released by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Six-year-old Amelia Aloni and her mother Daniel, 45, were also on the list.
Ohad Munder-Zichri, who spent his ninth birthday in captivity, was also listed along with his mom Keren, 54, and grandmother Ruth, 78. Several other seniors were also named.
In exchange, Israel was set to release 39 Palestinians, comprising 24 women and 15 teenage males, who it has been holding in detention for a range of alleged offenses.
In addition to that deal, 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino citizen captured from Israel on Oct. 7 were also released by Hamas, Qatar’s foreign ministry said. The Red Cross said it had facilitated the transfer and was “relieved to confirm the safe release of 24 hostages.”
Thailand’s prime minister earlier said in a post on social media that 12 nationals from his country had been released. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.
Meanwhile, a cease-fire planned for at least four days largely held, allowing hundreds of trucks carrying aid and some fuel into the densely populated enclave that has been besieged and bombarded for weeks since Hamas’ surprise terror attack on Oct. 7.
The deal offered some relief for the 2.3 million people living in the enclave with dwindling supplies, some of whom streamed out of shelters Friday morning to head home in defiance of Israeli military warnings.
It has also offered hope to the families of the roughly 240 hostages believed taken on Oct. 7, who have led a tireless pressure campaign to bring their loved ones home.
Brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, the deal is set to release at least 50 hostages in all. In return, Israel says it will free 150 Palestinian prisoners. No Americans were expected to be part of the first group, a senior Biden administration official said.
Prior to this, only four people had been freed from Gaza, leaving in two pairs; Israel also freed one of its soldiers while conducting ground operations in the strip. Two others, including another soldier, have been found dead.
The fate of the hostages has been a central source of grief and turmoil in Israel. The families have campaigned relentlessly to secure their release, including taking over a public square opposite the defense ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, and marching 40 miles from the city to Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem.
