13 Hamas hostages, including four children, returned to Israel
13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino have just returned to Israel after 49 days held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other terrorist groups following the brutal attack on 7 October.
This release was made possible by the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas with Qatar as mediator, which provides for a four-day cessation of hostilities, the entry of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip - including fuel - as well as the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and minors arrested on terrorism-related charges.
The hostages were transferred from Gaza to Egypt by the International Red Cross. Once on Egyptian territory, they were met by members of the Israeli Shin Bet security service and subsequently transported by the Israel Defense Forces in an operation called "Heaven's Gate" through the Kerem Shalom crossing into Israel. The hostages arrived at the Hatzerim airbase near Beersheba to undergo a brief physical and mental check-up.
Los 13 primeros liberados desde #Gaza a #Israel. Están siendo identificados por el shabak en suelo egipcio. Pendientes de traslado a territorio israelí. Nervios por el retraso (era 16h).
— Ofer Laszewicki Rubin (@OferLR) November 24, 2023
Tienen prohibido hablar con prensa: podría poner en peligro a los más de 200 rehenes. https://t.co/f7pk7z3hYF
The first 13 hostages released are as follows:
Doron Katz-Asher and his two daughters Raz, 5, and Aviv, 2. All three were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Emilia Aloni, 5, and her mother Danielle, 44, abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz while visiting family. Danielle was later seen in a Hamas propaganda video. Her sister, brother-in-law and three-year-old twin daughters remain hostages in Gaza.
Ohad Munder-Zichri, 9, her mother Keren Munder, 54, and her grandmother Ruti, 78. The family was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz while visiting family. Ruti's husband Avraham remains in Gaza. Little Ohad turned nine while in detention.
Yaffa Adar, 85, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Adar became one of the symbols of the 7 October attack as the terrorists released a video of her being taken to Gaza in a golf cart.
Adina Moshe, 72, from Nir Oz. Her husband Sa'id was killed during the attack.
Margalit Moses, 78, also from Nir Oz.
Hanna Katzir, 77, was abducted in Nir Oz and her husband Rami was killed. Her son Avraham is believed to be one of the hostages. Palestinian Islamic Jihad recently announced that Katzir had been killed in Gaza in yet another example of psychological warfare by terrorists.
Channah Peri, 79, from Nirim.
Hamas still holds 35 children, including an 8-month-old baby and a 4-year-old girl whose parents were killed.
Another photograph from the first moments when the hostages were released and being drive back. pic.twitter.com/yjxcHeAX2E
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 24, 2023
Following the arrival of the 13 Israelis on Israeli soil, Israel has released 39 Palestinian prisoners and minors arrested on terrorism-related charges. In West Bank locations, their release has been celebrated with Palestinian and Hamas flags.
Hamas
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) November 24, 2023
DOES NOT…
I repeat..
DOES NOT
Care about #Gaza
Instead, they care about boosting their popularity in the West Bank!
How can anyone celebrate after thousands died in Gaza?
Scumbags! https://t.co/E8An1DD6ts
Shortly before the arrival of the hostages in Egypt, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held a joint press conference with his Belgian counterpart, Alexander de Croo, which was harshly criticised by the Israeli government.
Jerusalem has summoned both the Spanish and Belgian ambassadors for a "harsh rebuke conversation". "We condemn the false claims by the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium that they are supporting terrorism," foreign minister Eli Cohen said on his Twitter account.
