TEL AVIV – After reaching a four-day ceasefire agreement between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas, which included the exchange of captives, the release of hostages has now encountered a delay until Friday.
Tzachi Hanegbi, Tel Aviv’s national security adviser, confirmed that the hostage release is slated to commence on Friday, disappointing families anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones.
Approximately 200 individuals were taken captive by Palestinian fighters during the October 7 attack, with 50 scheduled for release as part of the truce. Earlier, Hamas had freed four members.
Read more:Hamas Reports that Seven Hostages Died due to Israeli Airstrikes on Jabalia Camp in Gaza
In a separate initiative, Qatar mediated a temporary truce aimed at securing the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israeli forces.
Numerous Palestinians remain detained in Israeli prisons under stringent conditions.
The United Nations has hailed the agreement as a crucial step forward. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed readiness to maximize the positive humanitarian impact of the deal.
“While this marks a significant stride, there remains much more to accomplish,” remarked Mr. Guterres via a statement issued by his spokesperson, Farhan Haq.
This development emerges as UN humanitarian officials reaffirm their preparedness to escalate life-saving aid efforts within the enclave.
