Hamas freed the first batch of captives released under a cease-fire agreement that began Friday, including 13 Israelis who have been detained in the Gaza Strip since the terrorist organisation mounted a raid on Israel over seven weeks ago, news agency AP reported. According to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, twelve Thai nationals were also released. An Israeli official verified that the Thai hostages had departed Gaza and were on their way to an Israeli hospital. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorised to speak with the media about the disclosures.
Taking to X (previously known as twitter), Thavisin stated: "It has been confirmed by the Security Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 12 Thai hostages have already been released. Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details should be known soon."
During a four-day ceasefire, 50 detainees were supposed to be released. It was unclear whether the Thai hostages were included.
Under the terms of the agreement, Israel will free 150 Palestinians. Thirty-nine Palestinians were due to be released on Friday, including 24 women convicted of attempted murder for assaults on Israeli police and 15 minors imprisoned for offences such as hurling stones.
According to Israeli media, quoting security authorities, 13 Israelis have been released.
The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on Friday, allowing desperately needed supplies to enter Gaza and laying the scenario for the exchange.
There were no reports of fighting once the truce went into effect. The agreement provided some respite to Gaza's 2.3 million residents, who have been subjected to weeks of Israeli shelling and decreasing supplies of basic commodities, as well as to Israeli families concerned about loved ones kidnapped during Hamas' Oct. 7 onslaught, which began the conflict.
The cease-fire increased expectations of finally ending the fighting, which has devastated massive sections of Gaza, sparked a wave of violence in the occupied West Bank, and fanned worries of a wider Middle Eastern conflagration. Israel, on the other hand, has stated that it intends to begin its huge onslaught as soon as the cease-fire expires.