Israel confirmed this Friday that the Islamist group Hamas has already handed over 13 Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, who are being transferred to Egypt, as reported by the official radio of the Israeli Army, citing government sources.
The kidnapped people will leave through the Rafah border crossing, along with 12 other Thai captives, as part of the agreement reached by the Palestinian group and the Hebrew country that includes the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in addition to a four-day truce in the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, also confirmed this Friday that Twelve of the 26 Thai hostages who were being held by the Islamist group Hamas were released within the framework of the truce.
The twelve released Thais are not part of the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, but rather It would be the result of a parallel negotiation between Thailand and the Islamist group.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Thailand has sought different ways to achieve the release of the kidnapped people, including a trip led by the head of Thai diplomacy to Egypt and Qatar and meetings in Iran of representatives of the Thai Government with members of the Islamist group.
(Also read: They announce a list of 39 Palestinians that Israel will release in exchange for hostages)
According to the Government of Egypt, Egyptian authorities are already preparing at the Rafah crossingwhich connects Egypt with the Palestinian enclave, to receive those released by Hamas “in preparation for their transfer to the Israeli side.”
“Half an hour ago, the prisoners were handed over to the Red Cross who will take them to the Egyptians and Israelis who must receive them,” indicated sources close to the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
(You can read: The first truce between Israel and Hamas comes into force to release hostages)
The prisoners were handed over to the Red Cross who will take them to the Egyptians and Israelis who must receive them.
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, together with the head of Defense, Yoav Gallant, for his part, is at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, headquarters of the Israeli Army, to oversee the release of the thirteen Israeli hostages.
“The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense will closely follow the management of the operation to bring back to the country the Israelis released from Hamas captivity,” the Government reported in a statement.
The first thirteen Israeli hostages leave the Strip this Friday in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners, who are currently in the Israeli prison of Ofer to be released when Israel confirms the identity of the released Israelis.
(You may be interested: Israel assures that fighting will resume with intensity in Gaza after ‘brief truce’)
The exchange, in both cases, is reduced to women and children. In the case of the Palestinian prisoners, this Friday 24 women and 15 male adolescents will be released.
(Keep reading: The keys to the agreement between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages and a pause in Gaza)
In total, 50 Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians. during the four days that the truce in the fighting in Gaza lasts, which It could be extended up to ten days if Hamas is willing to hand over more captives, according to Israel.
For its part, the Israeli Army reported that everything is now ready to bring back the kidnapped people, who They will return to Israel in four military helicopters that are already ready to wait for them.
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*With EFE
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