The situation was initially confusing, but now it is clear: the transfer of the second group of Israeli hostages, which has been in the hands of terrorists since the brutal attack by the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, has been postponed. The surviving relatives must therefore continue to fear for the lives of their loved ones.
Hamas’s armed wing has decided to postpone the second round of hostage releases until Israel allows trucks carrying aid to enter the northern Gaza Strip, Reuters news agency reported. According to German news agency dpa, Hamas justified the delay by saying Israel had violated part of the agreement. In Israel, the transfer of the Israelis was expected around 3:00 PM CET. More than an hour later, Israeli media reported a “technical” delay.
Hamas accused Israel of not allowing aid to be delivered to the northern part of the Gaza Strip as agreed. It was currently unclear whether this was actually part of the Qatar-brokered agreement. In Israel there was always talk about enabling aid to the south.
There are already 24 people free
A total of 24 people were released on Friday, the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In return, 39 Palestinian women and teenagers were released from Israeli prisons, according to the emirate of Qatar, which acts as a mediator between the warring sides. In the major Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, approximately 240 people were abducted to the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli hostages, including four who also have German nationality, were taken to Egypt and then to Israel via the Rafah border crossing. There were four smaller children and their mothers and five older women. Ten Thai farm workers and one Filipino were also released. Initial examinations indicate the hostages are in good physical condition, health authorities said.
Four-day ceasefire
The agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates that a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners will be released during the first four-day ceasefire. According to an insider, the release of the Thais was not part of the ceasefire, but was negotiated independently – also with mediation from Qatar and Egypt.
Although both sides have said they want to resume fighting after the ceasefire ends, US President Joe Biden sees a real opportunity to extend it. The current ceasefire is an important opportunity to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. However, he does not know how long the war will last.
To the background
According to Israeli sources, Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in an attack in southern Israel on October 7. Israel then launched a large-scale military operation aimed at destroying Hamas. Israel attacked the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip from the air, sea and on the ground. According to Palestinian information, more than 14,000 residents of the densely populated, narrow coastal area have been killed so far, about 40 percent of them children. Hundreds of thousands fled their homes and apartments. Many people now took advantage of the ceasefire to search the rubble for valuables and other belongings.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
