They follow the 24 hostages who were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) the day before and returned to the territory of the Hebrew state on Friday.
Fifty days in prison. The second group of hostages released by Hamas this Saturday, November 25, arrived in Israel, the Israeli army said. According to the authorities, there are 13 Israelis and four Thais.
“The repatriated people underwent an initial medical examination,” explained an IDF spokesman.
He states that an Israeli citizen has been evacuated to a hospital in the territory, while the other former hostages are “on their way to hospitals where they will be reunited with their families.”
A delayed release
Their release was registered under an agreement that also led to at least a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Difficulties arose during Saturday.
The Palestinian movement delayed handing over the hostages to the Red Cross and accused the Israeli army of failing to respect the terms of the agreement. After talks, particularly between Qatar and Egypt, the 17 hostages arrived in Israel late in the evening.
39 Palestinian prisoners released
In return, the Israeli prison authority announced on Saturday night that it had released 39 Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinian prisoners are exclusively women and young people under the age of 19, just as the released hostages are exclusively women and children.
The agreement is expected to last four days and allow for the release of 50 Israelis and 150 Palestinians.