November 25, 2023
Updated 6 hours ago
Another 13 Israeli hostages and four Thais who were kidnapped in Gaza were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross this Saturday (November 25th) at around 6 p.m. Brazilian time 11 p.m. Israel time.
The group’s handover was delayed due to disagreements between Hamas and the Israeli government over the terms of the fourday ceasefire agreed upon for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinians detained in Israel.
The disagreement was resolved through the mediation of Egypt and Qatar.
As part of the agreement, Israel also released other Palestinians held in the country’s prisons.
Six women are said to be among the freedmen; the rest of the group is under 18. Israel often detains Palestinians indefinitely without charge.
Television footage showed a bus transporting prisoners in the West Bank city of Beitunia as crowds celebrated. According to local press reports, several released prisoners have now arrived in Jerusalem.
On Friday, Hamas released 13 Israeli hostages, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino, and Israel released 39 Palestinians.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office published this Saturday the names of the 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas.
In a statement, the office said: “The Israeli government embraces the 17 abducted people who returned to Israel, 13 of our citizens and four Thai citizens who returned to Israel today.”
“The Israeli government is committed to the return of all those abducted and missing.”
The latest hostages released by Hamas are:
The Haran/Shoham family: Shoshan Haran (67 years old), Adi (38), Nave (8), Yahal (3)
Or family: Noam (16) and Alma (13)
Weiss family: Shiri (53) and Noga (18)
Avigdori family: Sharon (52) and Noam (12)
Others: Hila Rotem Shoshani (12), Emily Hand (9), Maya Regev (21)
The identities of the Thai foreigners who were also released are not yet known.
Credit, family archive
caption,
Emily Hand was one of the hostages released this Saturday
Girl freed
One of the hostages released this Saturday was Emily Hand, 9 years old.
The IrishIsraeli girl was captured without her family members.
His father, Thomas Hand, held a press conference in London last Monday. He sobbed as he said he was sure his daughter would ask every day, “Where is my father, why didn’t he come to save me?”
Thomas did not give up his campaign and flew around the world with the message that Emily should be released. He was even informed that she had been killed. But then he was told that she was being held hostage and he said that his reason for living was to get her back.
She turned nine during her detention by Hamas and can now finally celebrate her birthday with her father.
He said it would take a long time to heal from the psychological trauma his daughter suffered.