Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip | The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was back on track on Monday after the militants freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and the first American, in a third exchange under a four-day truce that the United States said it hoped would be extended. In turn, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners.
Most hostages were handed over directly to Israel, waving to a cheering crowd as they arrived at an air force base on Sunday local time. Others left through Egypt. Israel’s army said one was airlifted to a hospital, and the director of Soroka Medical Centre said Elma Avraham, 84, was in life-threatening condition as “a result of an extended period of time when an elderly woman was not taken care of as needed”.
AP
