On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed the identities of 13 prisoners released by Hamas in an exchange arrangement.
Hamas had earlier today released 24 hostages, 13 of them were Israelis. Eleven more foreign nationals were also released.
The Israelis include four children, ages two to four, six to nine, and an 85-year-old woman.
Those released are Doron Katz Asher (34 years old), Raz Asher (age four), Aviv Asher (two years old), Daniele Aloni (45 years old), Emilia Aloni (age six), Ruth Munder (age 78), Keren Munder (54 years old), Ohad Munder (age nine), Adina Moshe (age 72) – Hanna Katzir (age 76) – Margalit Mozes (age 77) – Channah Peri (age 79) and Yafa Adar (85 years old)
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, the Israeli government welcomes its citizens’ return and is committed to the return of all abductees and missing persons.
The government stated that its residents received a first medical screening and that appointed personnel told their relatives that they had returned.
Meanwhile, as part of the agreement, Israel has released 39 Palestinian detainees to the West Bank.
According to the BBC, the group consists of 24 women and 15 adolescent boys. The vast majority were held in pre-trial custody.
The agreement calls for the release of 50 Israeli captives and 150 Palestinian detainees over the course of four days during a temporary ceasefire.
