International Relations

Hamas has released all 20 living captives it held in the Gaza Strip. Concurrently, Israel is proceeding with the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement.

The initial group of seven captives was transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and subsequently confirmed by the Israeli military. An additional 13 captives, held since October 7, 2023, have also been released.

Preparations for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody are ongoing, with buses positioned outside the Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank, where many prisoners set for release are held.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s office stated that the prisoner release would proceed once all living captives were confirmed to be on Israeli soil.

The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified the released captives as Guy Gilboa Dalal, 24; Eitan Mor, 25; Matan Angrest, 22; Alon Ohel, 24; Gali and Ziv Berman, both 28; and Omri Miran, 48.

Following their release, captives were reunited with their families and transported to hospitals for medical evaluation. According to reports, the captives are in reasonable condition, with no immediate need for medical assistance.

The Israeli government expects all living captives to be released by the 09:00 GMT deadline, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement. However, the repatriation of the bodies of 28 remaining captives may not be completed by Monday, despite the 72-hour deadline.

The ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States, is anticipated to facilitate increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, where significant challenges persist due to the ongoing conflict.

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Israel to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire. He plans to address the Israeli Knesset and then travel to Egypt to co-chair a summit on the agreement.

In Khan Younis, a medical facility has been established at the Nasser Medical Complex to conduct medical evaluations for the returning Palestinian prisoners prior to their reunion with families.