Hamas released 25 hostages this Friday within the framework of the truce agreement with Israel. On the first day of the ceasefire, Thai authorities first confirmed the release of 12 of its citizens in the hands of the Islamist group after a bilateral negotiation, and minutes later the Israelis stated that 13 Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross. Now, the Israeli hostages are already in the hands of Israel’s security services.

The kidnapped will leave through the Rafah crossing as part of an agreement for the release of 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners during four days of truce in Gaza, which could be extended up to ten days if Hamas is willing to hand over more captives, according to Israel. The twelve released Thais are not part of the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas with the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, but would be the result of a parallel negotiation between Thailand and the Islamist group.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Thailand has sought different ways to achieve the release of the kidnappedincluding a trip led by the head of Thai diplomacy to Egypt and Qatar and meetings in Iran of representatives of the Thai Government with members of the Islamist group.

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, together with the head of Defense, Yoav Gallant, is at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, headquarters of the Israeli Army, to supervise the imminent release of the thirteen Israeli hostages. “The Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense They will closely follow the management of the operation to bring the freed Israelis back to the country from the captivity of Hamas,” the Government reported in a statement.

For 39 Palestinian prisoners

The first thirteen Israeli hostages have been exchanged for 39 Palestinian prisoners, who are currently in the Israeli prison of Ofer to be released when Israel confirms the identity of the released Israelis. The exchange, in both cases, is reduced to women and children.

In the case of the Palestinian prisoners, they are scheduled to be released this Friday 24 women and 15 male adolescents. The head of government information in Egypt, one of the countries that mediated this agreement, has stated that the Egyptian authorities are “now preparing” at the Rafah crossing to receive those released by Hamas “in preparation for their transfer to the other side.” Israeli”.