The parameters of a potential new phase of the Gaza truce deal established includes Hamas releasing hostages who are men or military personnel, not only women and children. On Tuesday, the leaders of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad met Qatar’s prime minister in Doha to discuss the possible new phase and what might be needed to reach a ceasefire. As an outcome, 10 Israeli hostages and 4 Thai nationals were released and reunited with families, confirmed the Health Ministry.
Israeli Health Minister Uriel Busso pans the Red Cross organization, which has been handling the transfer of released hostages from Gaza to Israel via Egypt, over its lack of efforts to secure access to hostages held by Hamas and gain information on their wellbeing.
In an overnight post in Hebrew on X, Busso says the organization “refuses and neglects with complete insensitivity to transfer and make available information to Magen David Adom on the safety of the hostages.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross said that it had facilitated the release and transfer of 15 detained Palestinians from Israeli detention centres to Ramallah.
Thailand’s foreign minister has met Thai hostages in an emotional welcome after their release by Hamas from seven weeks of captivity, saying he hoped for freedom soon for the remaining hostages from his country.
Four Thai workers were released late on Wednesday, bringing the total released to 23. Another two were set free on Tuesday and taken to Shamir Medical Center, where they embraced one another on arrival. “We survived! We survived!” they cheered, and one was seen wiping away tears.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, two Israeli woman holding dual Russian citizenship were freed as a gesture to the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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