Israel
VIDEO: first hostages released by Hamas
A roughly one minute video was circulated on X showing that the first group of hostages held by Hamas were released to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday afternoon local time.
The hostages were reportedly carried in Red Cross ambulances passing through the Rafah border crossing bound for Israel via Egypt after 49 days in captivity. If the deal continues without any escalation in the conflict, an additional 37 Israelis are expected to be released over the coming days as a cease-fire holds and humanitarian aid enters the Gaza Strip.
In exchange, Israel had agreed to release 150 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom are women and minors, currently being held on various levels of terror-related criminal offenses. Thirty-nine Palestinians are expected to be returned on the first day of the deal. A crowd waiting outside the Ofer prison in the West Bank to greet those released in the first tranche of the agreement were reportedly tear-gassed by Israeli security forces.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, based in Qatar, vowed to uphold the deal, underscoring the terrorist group’s war aims. “Hamas will pursue its effort to halt the Israeli assault on Gaza, complete the prisoner exchange, end the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip and ‘attack’ on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in addition to enabling the Palestinian people to realize their legitimate national right for an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, self-determination, and the return” of Palestinian refugees.
First look on a night of anticipatipn: ICRC vehicles carrying elderly and others across Rafah border crossing. Filmed by NPR producer in Gaza, Anas Baba. pic.twitter.com/4Njg33MaBS
— Daniel Estrin (@DanielEstrin) November 24, 2023
Following the release of a Hamas propaganda video with footage of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, 20, alive after over 420 days in captivity, as well as the IDF having confirmed the death of American-Israeli Captain Omer Neutra who was abducted during the October 7th attack, Trump is not mincing words.
United States President-elect Donald Trump declared Monday that there will be “hell to pay” if the hostages held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists in Gaza are not freed before his inauguration on January 20. The message marked the first time since November’s election that the former chief executive commented on the situation facing captured Israeli citizens in the coastal enclave, reports Foreign Desk News.
Writing on his Truth Social account, the former president warned the captors, “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”
During the October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel, the invaders kidnapped 251 individuals after killing almost 1,200 civilians and responding security forces.
Following negotiations and rescue operations led by the Israeli military over the past year, authorities in Jerusalem estimate about 60 of the 95 remaining abductees are still alive, adds FDN.
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