Israel Receives List of Hostages to be Released by Hamas Today

Officials announced that "Israel has received a list of the names of the hostages that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza is set to release today, Saturday, following the release of 24 hostages on the first day of a planned four-day ceasefire yesterday, Friday." A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, which promised that his government would work towards securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas since the attack on Israel on October 7, noted that Israeli security officials are reviewing the list. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that the released hostages, including Israeli women and children as well as Thai farm workers, were transported out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, accompanied by eight Red Cross staff members in a convoy of four vehicles. They were then transferred to Israel for medical examinations and reunification with their relatives. Qatar, which played a mediating role in the ceasefire agreement, indicated that "13 Israelis were released, some of whom hold other nationalities, in addition to ten Thais and one Filipino among the farm workers who were held hostage while working in southern Israel." In return, 39 Palestinian women and children were released from Israeli prisons.