24- November-2023
Palestinian families wait anxiously for news
Footage from outside Israel’s Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank shows families of Palestinian prisoners still waiting for their release.
At least 39 Palestinian women and teenagers are slated for release under the deal.
We’re monitoring the situation, and we’ll bring you more information as soon as we get it.
WHO chief says ‘much more’ Gaza aid needed
In a post on X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomes the start of the humanitarian pause and the entry of aid into Gaza, calling it a “step in the right direction”.
“But much more is needed,” he warned.
“We continue to call for a犀利士 sustainable ceasefire to end further civilian suffering.”
Meanwhile, Israeli TV stations are saying that the Israeli captives have been transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza and are on their way to the crossing with Egypt.
No information yet on the Palestinians held in Israeli jails who are also slated for release.
Two Hamas sources have confirmed a handover of captives to the Red Cross for return to Israel via Egypt, according to AFP.
“Half an hour ago, the prisoners were handed to the Red Cross who will take them to the Egyptians” at the Rafah crossing, one of the sources was quoted as saying. “They were handed over to the Egyptian side,” the source added.
A source in the military wing of Hamas confirmed the handover, adding, “This is the first group under the agreement.”
Deal could ‘open the road for a complete exchange of prisoners’
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative, says the release of some Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails is “promising” as it could “open the road for a complete exchange of prisoners”.
“That means the release of all Palestinian prisoners put in Israeli jails, many of whom – at least 1,200 – are without due charges, without due legal process,” he told Al Jazeera.
Barghouti said recent developments showed that three “taboos” of the Israeli government had been broken.
The first one was to accept that there would be an exchange of people being held, he said. The second was accepting a pause for four days, Barghouti added.
“Third, that Netanyahu said, the only way he will deal with Hamas is to uproot them completely and now he’s negotiating with them and even making a deal with them.
“But the most important thing that we shouldn’t forget about is that this ceasefire must continue because the massacres in Gaza have to stop,” Barghouti said.
Israel says preparations for receiving captives completed
The army says it has prepared several locations dedicated to the initial reception of the released captives, including with necessary medical provisions and support.
“After the initial reception and medical treatment, the released hostages will continue to hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families,” it said in a statement.
The Israeli army added that four helicopters with medical teams and soldiers on board will be tasked with completing the return of the captives after their reception