The first three hostages have apparently been handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross, Arab media report. The three women are on their way to an Israeli special unit in the Gaza Strip. But for that we had to go through hell again…
According to family members and Israeli media reports, the hostages are 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 28-year-old Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher (31). A large number of Palestinians gathered next to Red Cross vehicles in Saraya Square in central Gaza City, apparently where Hamas handed over the three Israeli hostages.
Images shared by Palestinian media showed dozens of Hamas fighters on the streets. During the previous hostage crisis, Hamas also released propaganda videos showing the release of Israeli prisoners.
From the transfer point, the women are taken to an army facility in Israel, near the Gaza border, for an initial examination and ultimately to a clinic. Medical care is available to them, including pregnancy tests. They then have to meet their family at the hospital.
The Israeli military confirmed the transfer. They “received notice from the Red Cross that Romi, Emily and Doron have been transferred to the ICRC and are on their way to the Israeli Defense Forces.”
Around the same time, the first 90 or so Palestinian prisoners in Israel will be released and taken by security forces to the occupied West Bank or Gaza. It remained unclear whether the schedule would hold due to the delayed start of the ceasefire.
The start of the ceasefire has prompted thousands of Palestinians to leave refugee camps, images from the Gaza Strip show. The scenes resemble an exodus.
People are now heading back to their homes, which in most cases are now just rubble and ash. A majority are apparently moving back north.
Since the ceasefire began, videos have circulated of Hamas fighters coming out of hiding to celebrate the terrorist group’s survival in the streets. The scenes show how fragile this temporary peace is (see tweet below).
The Israeli army has reportedly already withdrawn from parts of the Gaza Strip. According to several media reports, troops are currently withdrawing from parts of the north and south of the enclave. The information could not initially be independently verified.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire of initially 42 days, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US. During this period, 33 of the 97 Israeli hostages remaining in the Gaza Strip will be exchanged for 1,904 captured Palestinians.
The first phase of the agreement also provides for a rapid improvement in food supplies for the more than two million residents of Gaza, 90 percent of whom are hungry, according to the UN. In addition, the Israeli army must withdraw from population centers in the Gaza Strip.
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.
