39 Palestine freed in first Hamas-Israel prisoner exchange deal
25 Nov 2023 08:49am
Marah Bkeer was seen hugging her family after her release from an Israel prison. - PIX BY REUTERS
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Israel and Hamas on Friday conducted the first prisoner exchange since the start of the conflict on Oct 7.
Under the Israel-Hamas deal, the prisoners will be released in batches over a period of 4 days.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said that Hamas released 24 Israelis and foreigners in exchange for the release of 39 Palestinians from Israeli prisons in the first batch of exchange.
"The ICRC (The International Committee of the Red Cross) has received 24 civilians that including a number of civilian women and children, under the humanitarian truce agreement,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on X.
The ICRC also said in a statement, "We are relieved to confirm the safe release of 24 hostages.”
"We have facilitated this release by transporting them from Gaza to the Rafah border, marking the real-life impact of our role as a neutral intermediary between the parties.
"It's a tremendous relief that after enduring weeks of distress, they can finally reunite with their families,” the organisation added.
Meanwhile, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed that 12 Thai citizens were also released by Hamas.
"It has been confirmed by the security side and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 12 Thai hostages are already released. Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in an hour," Thavisin said on X.
The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 14,854, the government media office in the blockaded enclave said Thursday.
The victims include 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, while more than 36,000 people have been injured, it said.
The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.- BERNAMA
