Egypt: 13 Israelis and 39 Palestinians to be released on third day of ceasefire

2023-11-26 18:20:09, Kosova & Bota CNA

Egypt has said it has accepted a list of 13 Israelis and another of 39 Palestinians expected to be released on Sunday, the third day of a ceasefire between Hamas - the radical Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the US and the EU - and Israel.

The four-day ceasefire between Hamas and Israel - brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States - began on Friday.

"Egyptian authorities have today received a list of those detained in Gaza, which includes 13 Israelis, and a list of Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons, which includes 39 Palestinians. They will be exchanged today between the two sides," said Diaa Rashwan, head of the Egyptian Government's media office.

This will be the third batch of hostages and prisoners to be released by both sides since the ceasefire began on Friday.

Rashwan said the ceasefire was continuing "unimpeded" into the third day.

Overall, Hamas has released at least 50 Israeli hostages, while Israel has released 150 Palestinian prisoners. All are women and minors.

Late Saturday, Hamas released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis from the Gaza Strip, while Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners.

The hostage-for-prisoner exchange was carried out in the late hours, after several hours of delay, as Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.

The delay highlighted the fragility of the ceasefire, which has halted a war that has shocked and shaken Israel, caused massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, and threatened to escalate the war across the region.

The war broke out on October 7, when Hamas fighters in Gaza breached border barriers and entered southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 240 others, including women, children and the elderly. .

Israel immediately declared war, carrying out weeks of bombing and launching a ground offensive that killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. About two thirds of those killed in Gaza were women and minors./ REL