Ten Israeli Hostages Returned on Sixth Day of Cease-Fire

Ten hostages abducted by Hamas have left the Gaza Strip via the humanitarian group, the Red Cross, and are making their way back to Israel. “The families of the hostages are being updated by IDF representatives with the latest available information,” the military said in a statement late Wednesday.

Cheers erupted in the David Hotel near the Dead Sea, home to residents from Kibbutz Be’eri, after the crowd learned that six of the freed Israelis were members of the community taken following Hamas’s surprise invasion in early October.

“We are continuing to progress this evening with the deal to return the hostages, as agreed upon,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said during a press conference ahead of the latest release of Israel hostages. Hagari added that there are believed to be an additional 159 hostages still held within the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Israel reportedly released 30 Palestinian prisoners following the exchange, a spokesperson from Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed.

The release of the Israeli hostages, alongside four Thai nationals, was preceded earlier Wednesday by Hamas freeing two dual Russian-Israeli passport holders in a so-called gesture of “appreciation” to President Vladimir Putin, a strategic partner of the Palestinian terrorist group. “According to the information provided by the Red Cross, two Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way to Israeli territory,” the IDF said in a brief statement following the news.

Swaps between the two combatants were initially scheduled to conclude on Monday but were extended two consecutive days as a precarious cease-fire was held, and humanitarian aid made its way into the besieged enclave.

Earlier Wednesday, AFP reported that the Palestinian terror group was interested in extending the truce an additional four days. “Hamas has informed the mediators that it is willing to extend the truce for four days and that the movement would be able to release Israeli prisoners that it, other resistance movements, and other parties hold during this period, according to the terms of the existing truce,” the unnamed source told the French outlet.

Meanwhile, the Israeli war cabinet was in the midst of deliberations late Wednesday night local time to discuss the potential for extending the cease-fire before it expires Thursday morning local time. “After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting?” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier in the day during a video address. “My answer is an unequivocal yes. There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.”

On Tuesday, the IDF confirmed Tuesday afternoon that a dozen more hostages had been released from Hamas custody in the Gaza Strip and were being escorted back to Israel. “Based on information that was received from the Red Cross, 12 hostages — including ten Israelis and two foreign nationals — are on their way toward Israeli territory,” the military noted in an official statement. “The families of the hostages are being updated by IDF representatives with the latest available information.”

The two foreign nationals from Thailand, a country whose workforce Israel relies on for agricultural assistance, were also released as part of the latest swap. Earlier this week, the Thai prime minister claimed that over a dozen citizens were still being held captive by Hamas.

Among the Israelis freed on Tuesday were nine women and one child, of whom two are dual passport holders. Many have relatives and friends who were murdered by Palestinian terrorist groups on October 7, and a few still have partners held in captivity in the Gaza Strip.

During Tuesday’s exchange, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists shared a brief embrace before releasing the hostages into the custody of the Red Cross. “Hamas and Islamic handing over hostages. Not surprising Islamic Jihad also wants a piece of the spotlight. Some of these hostages, like previous ones that have been released, were held by the Iranian proxy,” Joe Truzman, a researcher specializing in Palestinian armed groups with the Foundations for Defense of Democracies, wrote.

Last week, the Israeli government approved the transfer of civilian hostages held by Hamas in exchange for women and minors currently imprisoned in Israeli jails, many on terror-related charges. Israel initially agreed to a four-day cease-fire while allowing considerably more humanitarian aid, including fuel, into the besieged Palestinian enclave.