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Hamas released eight Israeli hostages in Gaza under a last-minute ceasefire deal on Thursday. In return, Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas had earlier released two female hostages. Israel identified them as Mia Shem (21) and Amit Susana (40), who were captured at a dance party with several other hostages kidnapped in Gaza. Meanwhile, it is being seen that now there is firing in Jerusalem, where three people were killed.
It is believed that around 140 hostages are still in the custody of Hamas. Hamas then released a group of six other hostages and turned them over to the Red Cross, the Israeli military said.
Release of 30 Palestinian prisoners
According to media reports, talks are underway between Israel and Hamas to further extend the ceasefire in Gaza. But no consensus has been reached yet. Let us tell you that Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 10 hostages will be released from Gaza in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners. Eight hostages were released on Thursday, while Israel released 30 Palestinians, a spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry said.
Four Thai hostages were released
Hamas released 12 hostages believed to be Israelis on Wednesday, including two Israeli-Russian women, whose release the Palestinian group described as goodwill toward Moscow, the spokesman said. Israeli officials suggested that the two women could be counted as part of Thursday's batch. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Israel's Army Radio that there are “about 10 (hostages)” per day, according to the framework deal. Israelis with dual citizenship are considered to meet the requirements, he said. Hamas also released four Thai hostages on Wednesday.
Deadly shooting in Jerusalem
Hamas' armed wing has claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting in Jerusalem. However, there was no sign of an end to the Gaza ceasefire or the release of hostages. At the same time, during his third trip to the Middle East after the start of the war, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Israel that a ceasefire is being negotiated. Blinken also asked the Israelis to ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians if war resumed, US officials said.
Discussion on extending the ceasefire
Mediators from Egypt and Qatar had been working for two days to negotiate a ceasefire, state media said. Earlier on Thursday, Hamas had released 97 hostages during the ceasefire. Seventy Israeli women, teenagers and children were freed under parallel agreements with their governments, along with three Palestinian women and teenage hostages, as well as 27 foreign hostages.
Earlier on Thursday, Israel had released 210 Palestinian prisoners. With fewer Israeli women and children left in captivity, extending the ceasefire may require establishing new conditions for the release of Israeli men, including soldiers.
Three killed in Jerusalem attack
Shortly after a last-minute ceasefire agreement, two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a Jerusalem bus stop in the early morning, killing at least three people. The police said that both the attackers have been arrested. At the scene of the attack, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir said the incident once again proves how we must not show weakness. Hamas said the attackers were its members, and its armed wing claimed responsibility for the attack in response to the occupation's crimes of killing children and women in Gaza.
Promise to eliminate Hamas
Let us tell you that Israel has taken an oath to destroy the terrorist group Hamas in response to the attack on October 7. Israel said the gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage. Israel then bombarded the Gaza Strip for seven weeks. Palestinian health officials, considered reliable by the United Nations, say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed dead, about 40 percent of them children. Another 6,500 people are missing, with many feared still buried under the rubble.
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