Hamas releases 4th batch of hostages, truce extended for 2 days

Hamas released a fourth batch of Israeli hostages in Gaza, with a total of 11 dual nationals, including three Israeli-French citizens, two Israeli-German citizens, and six Israeli-Argentinian citizens. The hostages were delivered to Red Cross officials as part of a ceasefire swap with Israel. The Israeli military confirmed the release, stating that the hostages had arrived in Israel and would undergo medical assessments before being reunited with their families. The release occurred 52 days after the hostages were taken by Hamas in an attack on southern Israel. The ceasefire, originally set to expire on Tuesday, was extended for an additional two days, with Hamas and Qatar confirming the extension. As part of the truce deal, Hamas will release 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for around 150 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Israel released 33 Palestinian prisoners under the terms of the truce, bringing the total number of detainees freed during the initial four-day pause to 150. The ceasefire extension will proceed under the same conditions as the previous deal.

Source – CGTN