Hamas hands over 13 Israeli, four foreigners as Palestinians, including 33 children freed

In all, 17 hostages —13 Israelis and four Thai nationals — have arrived in Israel as part of the second group to be released, while 39 Palestinians — including 33 children — are freed. Follow updates.

Hamas has handed over 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals, to the International Committee of the Red Cross, who are the second group of hostages to be released.

According to the Red Cross, the hostages have been transferred into Egypt and are making their way to the Kerem Shalom border crossing in southern Israel.

The Israeli government says six adult women and seven children and teenagers have been released.

Among those released are Sharon Avigdori and her daughter Noam, and siblings Alma and Noam Or, as well as 9-year-old Emily Hand and 12-year-old Hila Rotem.

Aviv Habaron, whose niece Adi Shoham and her children Neve, 8, and Yahel, 3, were also just released told the Israeli news agency Channel 13: “You find us at the peak of excitement here. To see Shoshan, Adi, Neve, Yahel, Sharon, Noam, everyone from our family, together with the fact that Tal is not back yet.

“So, as happy as we are, and there is no one happier than us right now, we are still in the fight for the return of everyone as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Israel has also released 39 Palestinians, which includes six women and 33 children.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says they hope that “the momentum of the last 48 hours will make it possible to extend the ceasefire even when the current deal expires.”

In all, some 50 hostages and some 150 Palestinian prisoners will be released under the terms of the ceasefire.

Hamas has handed over 13 Israelis, who are the second group of hostages to be released. Picture: IDF

Media coverage: "Al Qassam Brigades released footage showing the release of the second batch of Israeli prisoners. The prisoners seem healthy and comfortable while waving to the resistance fighters." #BREAKINGpic.twitter.com/dLPxzWGTF0

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 25, 2023

Sharon Avigdori and her daughter Noam smile following their release.

Sharon Avigdori and her daughter Noam wave after being freed.

Here is the full list of the Israelis released on Sunday:

• Noam Or (16)
• Alma Or (13)
• Shiri Weiss (53)
• Noga Weiss (18)
• Sharon Hertzman Avigdori (52)
• Noam Avigdori (12)
• Shoshan Haran (67)
• Adi Shoham (38)
• Naveh Shoham (8)
• Yahel Shoham (3)
• Hila Rotem Shoshani (12)
• Emily Toni Kornberg Hand (8)
• Maya Regev Jirbi (21)

FOLLOW THE UPDATES BELOW:

CROWDS GATHER TO GREET 39 PALESTINIANS FREED

Thousands of people have gathered to greet the Palestinian prisoners, which includes six women and 33 children, who are being freed from two prisons as part of the second batch of the exchange deal with Hamas.

Many of them have been expressing great personal joy and relief at eventually being able to see their loved ones, many of whom have spent considerable time incarcerated in Israeli jails.

Palestinian prisoner Shuruk Duveyat reunites with her family in Jerusalem. Picture: Getty Images

The crowd surrounds a bus carrying Palestinians released from Israeli jails. Picture: Ahmad Gharabli

A young Palestinian is welcomed by a relative after being released from Israeli jails. Picture: Ahmad Gharabli

FIRST HOSTAGE FROM MUSIC FESTIVAL AMONG RELEASED

Maya Regev, 21-year-old, was part of the second group of hostages to be released and is the first hostage who was taken from the Supernova music festival in Re’im to be released.

She was captured just a few hours after coming into the country from a holiday in Mexico. Her brother Itay, 18, and their friend Omer She-Tov were also taken hostage and have not been released.

Relatives of 21-year-old Maya Regev. Picture: AFP

ISRAELI TROOPS KILL SIX PALESTINIANS IN OCCUPIED WEST BANK

Israeli troops have killed six Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the Palestinian ministry of health said.

Agence France-Presse reports that a 25-year-old doctor was killed early in the morning outside his home in Qabatiya, near Jenin.

Another Palestinian was killed in el-Bireh, near Ramallah.

Four people were also killed by Israeli army fire in Jenin, during an incursion by a large number of armoured vehicles into the town, which was recently the scene of the deadliest Israeli raid in the West Bank in almost 20 years.

Witnesses told AFP on Saturday that the Israeli army was surrounding Jenin’s public hospital and the Ibn Sina clinic, and that soldiers were searching ambulances.

They also reported heavy fighting with automatic weapons.

At least 230 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli settlers and soldiers since October 7.

AMBULANCE ‘TARGETED’ NEAR OFER PRISON

The Palestinian Red Crescent says one of its ambulances in the occupied West Bank was “targeted” near Ofer Prison.

The attack “resulted in the rear window shattering, and our team is safe,” the PCRS said in a post on X.

Dozens of Palestinians gathered outside the vicinity of Ofer awaiting the imminent release of the second round of Palestinian prisoners.

🚨🚑 Targeting a PRCS ambulance in the Ofer area near ramallah resulted in the rear window shattering, and our team is safe.#WestBank#NotATarget#IHLpic.twitter.com/YRXRNFtjUg

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) November 25, 2023

More than 100,000 protestors march in London in solidarity with Palestine, demanding a permanent ceasefire. Picture: Getty Images

DEEP CONCERN’ FOR DETAINED PARAMEDIC

The Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) says the whereabouts of the head of the Khan Younis Medical Center, Awni Khattab, are “now unknown”.

Israeli forces arrested Mr Khattab on Thursday along with three paramedics and a companion of a wounded person – who were all later released.

They were involved in the evacuation of wounded and sick people from al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City – which remains occupied by Israeli forces – to the enclave’s south.

“PRCS demand his immediate release along with other medical teams that are under arrest,” it said.

🚨PRCS expresses deep concern for Awni Khattab, Head of Khan Younis Medical Center in #Gaza. Arrested by Israeli forces during the wounded convoy from Al-Shifa Hospital, his whereabouts are now unknown.

📢PRCS demand his immediate release along with other medical teams that are… pic.twitter.com/IJrfadZHzi

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) November 25, 2023

57 JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA WORKERS KILLED: CJP

The Committee to Protect Journalists has said that between October 7 and November 25 the number of journalists killed stood at:

• 50 Palestinians
• Four Israelis
• Three Lebanese

The watchdog also said that 11 journalists were injured, three were missing and 19 were arrested.

UPDATE: as of November 25, 57 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead: 50 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese. And 19 journalists were reported arrested. https://t.co/lNtZEQfEOX

— CPJ MENA (@CPJMENA) November 25, 2023

PALESTINIAN PRISONER RELEASE A ‘WINDOW OF HOPE’

At least a quarter of the population of the West Bank has spent time in an Israeli jail.

More than 3000 people have been arrested since the 7 October attacks - including almost 900 children - the highest number in more than 30 years, according to the Israeli human rights organization HaMoked. Many of these detainees have been placed in administrative detention without charge.

Marah Bakeer, who was arrested in 2015 when she was 16 years old, was among those released in Jerusalem on Saturday.

“All of the prisoners suffered a high level of medical neglect [while detained],” she said.

IRAN SAYS IT HELPED BROKER RELEASE OF THAI NATIONALS

The 10 released Thai workers were in “good condition” and would be returned home “once they are ready physically and mentally,” the country’s deputy ambassador to Israel told the news site Ynet.

Tehran says that “the issue of Thai prisoners was jointly pursued by the Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar.”

“A list of names of these prisoners was given to Hamas officials to review and assist with the issue from a humanitarian perspective,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani told the official IRNA news agency.

An International Red Cross vehicle reportedly carrying hostages released by Hamas crosses the Rafah border point in the Gaza Strip towards Egypt from where they would be flown to Israel to be reunited with their families. Picture: Mahmud Hams / AFPTV / AFP

Asil al-Titi, 23, from the occupied West Bank is pictured with her mother and sister, one day after her release by Israel. Picture: AFP

Hanin Barghouti (C) a Palestinian prisoner held in an Israeli prison looks on after her release under a truce deal between Israel and Hamas in exchange for hostages held in Gaza. Picture: Ahmad Gharabli / AFP

AID TRUCKS ENTER GAZA

The ceasefire also enabled the largest shipment of aid to enter Gaza since the outbreak of hostilities with some facilities in the north receiving their first supplies in more than a month.

However, while a total of 340 aid trucks had entered Gaza since Friday, only 61 of those trucks had reached northern Gaza - “which was less than half of what Israel agreed on”.

The Palestine Red Crescent successfully delivered humanitarian aid today to the city of #Gaza and the northern governorate of #Gaza in the largest convoy since the start of the continuous aggression on the Strip for the fiftieth consecutive day.#HumantarianAid#HumantarianHerospic.twitter.com/rJSFTYckrx

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) November 25, 2023

FIRST HOSTAGE SWAP DEAL ON SATURDAY

Among them were Yaffa Adar, an 85 year old whose kidnapping from the Nir Oz kibbutz aboard a golf cart was widely shared on social media, and Adina Moshe, a 72 year old from the same community who was snatched on a motorbike after Hamas militants killed her husband.

A group of 11 Asian kidnap victims released included nine Thai men, one Thai woman and one Filipino man, while a second group of thirteen Israeli hostages comprised four children and their mothers, as well as another five women.

Yoni Asher welcoming his four-year-old daughter Raz and two-year-old Aviv and their mother. They were part of the first group of hostages released. Picture: Israel Army

Receiving hospitals said most of the hostages appeared to be in good physical health, despite the ordeal of being kept in captivity for nearly 50 days.

In return for the first hostages, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners, which included 17 minors and 22 women, who had been convicted of crimes such as throwing stones.

AUSTRALIAN PM WELCOMES CEASEFIRE

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Australia “welcomes the release of hostages and the pause in hostilities to allow humanitarian access to Gaza”.

“We have consistently called for all hostages to be released, for the protection of civilian lives and for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire and a long-term, enduring peace,” he posted.

A Palestinian youth sits next to his bicycle amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City on the northern Gaza Strip following weeks of Israeli bombardment, as a four-day ceasefire took effect. Picture: AFP

But more pointed language came from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

“We feel relief and gratitude that some of the most vulnerable hostages including babies and the elderly are now free, away from the hell of Hamas captivity,” co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

“But it is difficult to feel joy knowing that some of the hostages are orphaned or the last surviving members of their families. It is difficult to feel joy knowing that on October 7 so many children were tortured, raped and burned alive. And that some 190 hostages will remain in Hamas hands. We are also deeply concerned that the convicted attempted murderers released from Israeli jails will go on to claim Israeli lives, as have previously released prisoners. And we fear that Hamas will gain an advantage from the pause that will result in more Israeli soldiers making the ultimate sacrifice.”

A helicopter is seen arriving with hostages at Schneider medical centre where they disembarked behind screens as family and friends wait nearby. Picture: Erik Marmor/Getty Images

In another sign hostilities were far from over, Major Doron Spielman confirmed the IDF were questioning the director of the al-Shifa Hospital, Muhammed Abu Salmiya. “He was the head of a hospital that was really sitting on top of an entire terror network,” he said. “How could he not know what was happening?”

Originally published as Hamas hands over 13 Israeli, four foreigners as Palestinians, including 33 children freed