Hamas Continues Hostage Release Amid Fragile Truce

Overview

• Thirteen Israelis and four Thai nationals released from Hamas captivity arrived in Israel on Sunday, marking the second step of a crucial hostage deal that briefly risked falling apart due to a dispute over the delivery of aid supplies into Gaza.
• The temporary truce to free captives was overcome with the mediation of Qatar and Egypt, under which a total of 50 Israeli hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days.
• Among the Palestinian prisoners released from two Israeli prisons, six were women and 33 were minors, some of whom arrived at Al-Bireh Municipality Square in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where thousands of citizens were waiting for them.
• A Palestinian official familiar with the diplomacy said Hamas would continue with the four-day truce agreed with Israel, the first halt in fighting since Hamas fighters rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.
• Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day.