The process of transferring Israeli prisoners held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip to the Red Cross began on the seventh day of the temporary truce between the movement and the Israeli government. Red Cross vehicles left the Rafah crossing after receiving six Israeli detainees from the Al-Qassam Brigades, completing the seventh batch. This includes two detainees released hours earlier and two Russians released yesterday.
The operation involves 10 Israelis in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinians, including 8 female prisoners and 22 boys and children.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majid Al-Ansari, stated that the Palestinians released from Israeli prisons include 23 minors and seven women, while the eight Israeli citizens released today are minors and six women, including dual nationals from Mexico, Russia, and Uruguay.
Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena announced via the social media platform "X" the release of one of two Mexican hostages held in Gaza. Bárcena thanked the Qatari government for its "priceless mediation," stating that Mexico continues to work on the release of the second hostage.
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it successfully facilitated the release and transfer of eight hostages held by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza. The neutral organization, based in Switzerland, is tasked with the mission of securing the release of hostages in Gaza and Palestinians in Israeli detention centers under the terms of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.
The truce, now in its seventh day, has led to the release of 103 hostages seized by Hamas during its attack on Israeli border towns with the Gaza Strip. In return, Israel has released more than 240 Palestinian prisoners from its jails.
