Hamas Continues Hostage Release Amid Fragile Truce

Mediation by Qatar and Egypt Helps Overcome Aid Dispute, Paving Way for Exchange of Israeli and Palestinian Prisoners

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.