11 Israelis, 33 Palestinians Freed In Fourth Stage Of Hostage Release As Truce Extended

Hamas freed 11 hostages from Gaza City on Monday while Israel released 33 Palestinians from its jails as the truce between the two parties was extended by two days.

Hamas hands over 11 Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City, Gaza on November 27, 2023.

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Hamas released a fourth set of hostages on Monday in exchange for a group of Palestinian prisoners under the temporary truce between the militant group and Israel. The Palestinian militant group freed 11 hostages from the Gaza Strip bringing the total number of hostages released till now to 69. 

In exchange, 33 Palestinians were released from Israel's Ofer prison in the West Bank and from a detention centre in Jerusalem, bringing the total number of Palestinians it has freed since Friday to 150, according to a Reuters report. 

They were released from the prisons in Damon, Megiddo, Ofer, Ktzi’ot, Ramon and Nafha, according to the service, reported CNN. 

The 11 hostages released by Hamas were taken to Tel Aviv medical centre Israel's largest acute care facility, said the Israeli Ministry of Health, as per a CNN report. 

Among the 11 hostages were nine children and two women. 

Ahead of the hostage release, the Israeli health ministy said that medical teams and other professionals were stationed in the hospital to provide any medical or psychological care.

‏"We wish to remind you that these are sensitive moments for the freed hostages and their families and we wish to preserve their privacy,” the statement said. “The entire health system is prepared to receive anyone who will return to Israel and is preparing for tomorrow.”

The hostages and prisoners from both the sides are being released under a truce between Hamas and Israel which has been extended for two more days as the original one was due to be expired on Monday. 

"We have an extension ... two more days," Qatar's U.N. Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani told reporters after a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting, saying both sides were to release more people. "This is a very positive step."

Since the beginning of the truce, Hamas and Israel have released hostages and prisoners that they held. Of the 69 hostages freed by Hamas were 51 Israelis and 18 foreigners.