ALBAWABA - Under the terms of the recently brokered prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, a group of 39 Palestinian prisoners, comprising 24 women and 15 minors, has been granted freedom from Israeli confinement. This liberation follows the reciprocal release of 13 Israeli prisoners by Hamas.
Shortly after the arrival of the Israeli detainees in their homeland, the International Red Cross Committee oversaw the handover of the Palestinian prisoners at Ofer Prison in the West Bank.
The release prompted a gathering of hundreds in Betunia town, adorned with Palestinian and Hamas flags, symbolizing both anticipation and celebration. Tensions arose as Israeli forces responded with tear gas to occasional displays of fireworks and vocal expressions of solidarity from the Palestinian crowd.
As the buses transporting the liberated Palestinian prisoners reached Betunia, Israeli forces persisted in their efforts to disperse the gathering, intermittently employing sound bombs and tear gas. The unfolding events underscore the complex dynamics surrounding such exchanges in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hamas releases 12 Thai citizens held in Gaza
In a significant development following the initiation of a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the focus shifted to the release of Israeli and Palestinian prisoners in the region. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made a statement today regarding 12 Thai citizens held captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas.
Taking to social media, Thavisin announced the liberation of the 12 Thai nationals who had been held in Gaza since the onset of conflicts on October 7. As the humanitarian ceasefire unfolds, attention is drawn not only to the broader Israeli-Palestinian dynamics but also to the release of individuals from different nationalities caught in the crossfire.
