Israel-Hamas war: 33 Palestinian and 11 Israeli hostages freed amid ceasefire

A mom and her three-year-old twin daughters had been among the many 11 hostages launched yesterday on the fourth day of a truce between Israel and Hamas.

Sharon Aloni-Cunio, 34, and her three-year-old daughters Emma and Yuli had been being held captive by Hamas since they had been taken from their dwelling kibbutz Nir Oz.

Her husband, David Cunio, and his brother, Ariel, are nonetheless believed to be in captivity in Gaza.

The household was kidnapped in the course of the assault on 7 October whereas in search of refuge in a safe room.

Following the arson of their home by Hamas, the household was seized as they tried to flee the flames.

Sharon’s sister, Daniele Aloni, and her daughter, who had been additionally taken captive, had been launched final Friday.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described Emma as “an open-hearted and amazing child, full of love. A true kibbutz girl who prefers trucks and mechanical tools over dolls”.

It mentioned her sister Yuli “was shy, and in the weeks before her kidnapping she became more open and smiley to her surroundings”.

Another mom and seven different kids had been among the many newest batch of freed hostages.

Israel launched 33 Palestinian prisoners from jails following the releasing of 11 Israeli hostages from Gaza. It brings the overall variety of Palestinians freed since Friday to 150.

Pictures present crowds greeting the prisoners as they arrived within the West Bank.

An Israel-Hamas truce within the Gaza Strip has been prolonged to a fifth day as we speak as each side full the discharge of Israeli hostages and detained Palestinians – and extra could possibly be freed as we speak.

The truce as been prolonged by two days – nevertheless, it’s a restricted deal, in keeping with Israel which nonetheless holds the intention to ship forces again into the territory.

We’re listening to from the the Palestinian well being ministry this morning that there have been clashes exterior the Ofer pirson in Israel the place dozens of Palestinians who gathered to await the prisoner launch on Monday.

Some of the protesters waved the flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, one other Palestinian militant group.

The ministry mentioned a Palestinian was killed within the space, and that it was unclear if he had participated within the clashes.

Haartez journalist Ben Samuels slammed Israeli officers on Monday for his or her “repulsive” embrace of Elon Musk, after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured a destroyed kibbutz with the Twitter proprietor.

“Welcoming such a toxic mogul with open arms and taking him around sites of a massacre that has been belittled, demeaned and denied on his watch should be a stain on Netanyahu’s legacy,” Mr Samuels wrote.

Here’s extra element on Musk’s controversial go to to Israel.

Among the 11 Israeli hostages launched yesterday had been three younger French nationals; Eitan, 12, Erez, 12, and Sahar 16.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna welcomed the information this morning, stating they had been in good well being.

“We have indirect news and that news is good… It is a great, great relief,” she informed RTL radio, when requested concerning the well being of youngsters.

“Three French children were finally freed, now we must work relentlessly for the release of all the other hostages,” she mentioned, including that 5 French nationals had been nonetheless lacking or believed to be held hostage.

Hamas on Monday launched 11 hostages from Gaza, additionally together with two with German nationality and six with Argentinian nationality.

The 11 Israeli hostages launched on Monday had been all taken to Israel’s Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv for medical session.

Medical and psychological specialists had been readily available to deal with them.

‏”We want to remind you that these are delicate moments for the freed hostages and their households and we want to protect their privateness,” the well being ministry said in a press release to CNN. “The entire health system is prepared to receive anyone who will return to Israel and is preparing for tomorrow.”

Israel is ready to launch as many as 50 feminine prisoners if Hamas continues to free hostages beneath the continued ceasefire deal.

“The Government has approved the inclusion of 50 female prisoners in the list of prisoners eligible to be released in the event that a release of additional Israeli hostages is carried out,” the Israeli prime minister’s workplace mentioned in a press release.

Ido Dan, a relative of Israelis Sahar Calderon, 16, and Erez Calderon, 12 who had been launched on Monday, spoke of his pleasure blended with anxiousness about their father, Ofer, who continues to be being held.

“It is difficult to go from a state of endless anxiety about their fate to a state of relief and joy,” Mr Dan mentioned.

“This is an exciting and heart-filling moment but … it is the beginning of a difficult rehabilitation process for Sahar and Erez, who are still young and have been through an unbearable experience.”

The White House doesn’t imagine that Hamas purposefully held again the discharge of two American ladies who haven’t been included within the exchanges to this point.

A senior Biden administration official mentioned that “so far” the concept Hamas is intentionally holding again the 2 American hostages due to their citizenship was not a “conclusion we would draw”.

The Biden administration nonetheless hopes for the discharge of the 2 ladies, noting that Hamas has dedicated to releasing an extra 20 hostages over the following two days after the ceasefire was prolonged.

Eleven Israeli ladies and kids had been freed by Hamas and entered Israel on Monday night time within the fourth swap beneath the unique four-day truce.

“We’ll see where we are two days from now,” the official mentioned.

Eitan Yahalomi, age 12, returned fortunately to his mom’s arms on Monday, certainly one of 11 Israeli residents launched as we speak as a part of the continued IDF-Hamas ceasefire.

His father, Ohad, who was kidnaped with him, stays in Gaza.