Israel releases 39 Palestinian prisoners under hostage deal
Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners Friday as part of the first round of exchanges with Hamas, which had earlier freed hostages from Israel, Thailand and the Philippines.
The Foreign Ministry of Qatar, which mediated the negotiations on the deal to release detainees, has confirmed the 39 Palestinian prisoners were released Friday.
The Palestinians were sent home at around the same time as the 24 hostages held by Hamas crossed into Egypt and then into Israel on Friday.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is transferring both Israeli and Palestinian prisoners and hostages, said so far 33 Palestinian detainees from the Israeli-run Ofer Prison have arrived in Ramallah, the de facto capitol of the West Bank.
The exchange Friday is the first part of what is expected to be the release of a total of 50 hostages held by Hamas and 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jail over four days.
Over that period, there will also be a temporary pause in the fighting and the flow of more humanitarian aid into besieged Gaza.
The Palestinian prisoners freed Friday were women and children, which Hamas had asked to be released in the first batch. Videos circulating on social media have shown some of the prisoners being greeted by family, friends and supporters.
Hamas in turn has released 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thai and one Filipino, according to Qatar and Israeli authorities.
The hostages held by Hamas were safely transferred to Israel and inspected at hospitals without any serious injuries, according to Israel, and they are returning home to their families.
Hamas kidnapped around 240 hostages when it launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis.
Israel has faced immense pressure at home to find a way to bring the hostages home and the deal was worked out over weeks of intense negotiations, with the help of the U.S. and Egypt.