Israel-Hamas war top developments: 13 freed hostages 'inside Israeli territory'

After the release of Israeli hostages, Netanyahu vowed for the return of all remaining Israeli captives held by the Hamas Islamist group. 

"We have now completed the return of the first of our abductees. Children, their mothers, and other women. Each and every one of them is a whole world. But I emphasise to you - the families, and to you - the citizens of Israel: we are committed to the return of all our abductees. This is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all the goals of the war," Netanyahu said. 

IDF Special Forces and ISA Forces on Friday (Nov 24) released a joint statement updating on the hostage situation. 

It said that the forces are with the released hostages.

"The released hostages underwent an initial medical assessment inside Israeli territory. They will continue to be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families," the statement read. 

IDF said that it will continue operating until all the hostages are returned home.

"The IDF Spokesperson reiterates the importance of demonstrating patience and sensitivity during this time out of respect for the released hostages and their families," the statement added.  

Hostages released by Hamas received medical check-ups upon their arrival to Egypt on Friday (November 24) before being transported to the Karm Abu Salem crossing where they were handed to Israeli authorities.

Footage aired on local Egyptian Al-Qahera News showed ambulances lined up outside a small waiting area where some of the elderly hostages were seen disembarking.
 

Palestinians are running for safety as Israeli Defence forces are resorting to tear gas to disperse the crowd gathered near the Ofer prison. 

The 13 Israeli hostages who were released earlier on Friday (Nov 24) by the Hamas militant group have been identified. 

Here are their names along with their age - 

Hannah Katzir, 77
Margalit Mozes, 77
Yafa Ader, 85
Hannah Perry, 79
Adina Moshe, 72
Danielle Aloni, 44, and 6-year-old Emilia Aloni
Ruthi Mondar, 78, Keren Mondar, 54, and Ohad Mondar, 9.
Doron Katz-Asher, 34, and her daughters Aviv Asher, 2, and Raz Asher, 5

According to Israel Defence Forces, they have re-entered Israeli territory. 

Israeli security forces are resorting to tear gas in order to disperse Palestinians who are gathered near Ofer prison ahead of the release of prisoners under the Israel-Hamas war. 

The Israeli army said Friday the first hostages released from the Gaza Strip were back on Israeli territory where they would undergo medical checks before being reunited with their families.

"The released hostages underwent an initial medical assessment inside Israeli territory," the military said in a statement, adding they would be accompanied by "soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families".

With hostage release operations ongoing, trucks loaded with humanitarian assistance enter the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing with Egypt. This came hours after the four-day truce between Israel and Hamas kicked off on Friday (Nov 24). 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were monitoring the operation to release the first batch of hostages by Hamas militants on Friday (Nov 24). 

Qatar confirmed that Israel freed 39 prisoners as per deal with Hamas.

Qatar confirmed the latest tally of hostages released by Hamas. It said a total of 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino have been released so far. 
 

"We are relieved to confirm the safe release of 24 hostages.. We have facilitated this release by transporting them from Gaza to the Rafah border, marking the real-life impact of our role as a neutral intermediary between the parties," Red Cross reportedly said. 

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) kicked off a 'multi-day operation' to reunite Gaza hostages, West Bank detainees with families, AFP reported. 

Families of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, gathered at the “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, together with supporters and politicians, as the first group of hostages were set to be released.
 

AFP reports while citing Israeli security source said 13 Israeli hostages handed to Israeli forces. 
 

US and UK report that none of their citizens are among the first group of hostages being released, Israel's local media outlet i24 said on a post on X social media platform. 

The first batch of 13 Israeli hostages, who were released by Hamas, have now entered Egypt through Rafah crossing. The hostages were held captive for 49 days by the militant group, as reported by The Times of Israel.

Tensions escalated in the West Bank amid the ongoing release of 13 Israeli hostages by Hamas as the tear gas was fired on a crowd of Palestinians by Israeli security forces. The Palestinians had gathered for greeting the prisoners who will be released as part of a truce between Hamas and Israel, as reported by AP. As per reports, the Palestinians have been throwing objects towards the security forces.

As per reports, the Israeli hostages are reportedly moving towards the Rafah Crossing to enter Egypt. The Red Cross is tranferring them and they are undergoing brief medical examinations at a hospital in Khan Younis.

As per Hamas-linked Al-Aqsa TV, the militant outfit has confirmed the handing over the first batch of Israeli hostages to the Red Cross.

The Israeli hostages have been handed to staff of the International Committee for Red Cross and are moving out of Gaza towards the Rafah crossing in ambulances, said an Israeli official.

The release of the 13 hostages is the first among the expected stages. Over the four days of the truce with Israel, Hamas has agreed for release of nearly 50 hostages, all children, mothers and other women.

Thailand PM Srettha Thavisin confirmed that 12 Thai hostages have been released by Hamas.

Taking to X, PM Thavisin said, "It has been confirmed by the Security Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that There are 12 Thai hostages already released. Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details should be known. Please stay tuned."

The government media office of Egypt said that along with the 13 Israeli hostages, who are set to get released soon, it has further negotiated the separate release of 12 Thai hostages who were taken hostag by Hamas after October 7 attack.

Bangkok has stated that 26 of its citizens were taken hostage by Hamas that day.
 

Palestinian prisoners were transferred by the Israeli forces from the Damon prison to the West Bank prison of Ofer before the planned release in exchange for the Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas.

The list of 39 Palestinian prisoners was released by the Palestinian authorities who are expected to be released in exchange for 13 Israeli hostages on Friday (Nov 24) in Gaza.

The group consists of 24 women and 15 teenage boys and their release is part of the breakthrough ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

A joint press conference was addressed by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo as as they visited the Rafah border crossing on the Day 1 of the four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. 

Hostages after being freed from the captivity of Hamas will be received by the Red Cross and then will be handed over to the Israeli military, said an Israeli official, ahead of the first expected release.

Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, Israeli Public Diplomacy Directorate adviser Ziv Agmon said that the hostages will be identified in line with the list of those to be released.

As per US officials, American citizens are not likely to be among the first group of hostages who will be released on Friday.

The official said that they are hopeful Americans will be among the initial 50.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi hoped for the extension of the four-day ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and stated that Palestinian state's recognition is the only way for achieving a lasting peace.

Speaking at a joint news conference after holding talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Cairo, el-Sissi stated a longer truce will allow entry of more aid into Gaza and release of more Israeli hostages, who have been held by militants.

Two Palestinians were fatally shot and 11 others were injured by the Israeli troops as they tried to reach the main combat zone in northern Gaza despite warnings issued by the Israeli army, reported AP. No immediate comment was made by the IDF.

The IDF stated that all preparations are done for receiving the first group of 13 hostages who will be released at 4 pm (local time) today from the Gaza Strip, as part of an operation dubbed “Heaven’s Door.”

After the release, the hostages will be brought to Hatzerim Airbase in southern Israel by the IDF for an initial reception. Here they will undergo a short physical and mental checkup.

Psychologists and mental health experts have been gathered by the military to greet the hostages, many of whom are likely to be children. Mobile phones have been brought by the IDF for hostages to call their relatives immediately after their arrival at Hatzerim.

The hostages will be at Hatzerim for two hours before they are taken to a hospital, either through a minibus or a helicopter. Those in need of immediate medical attention will be admitted to a hospital near the border.

At least 60 Palestinians, who have been in Egypt since October 7, gathered at the Rafah border crossing with the hope of returning home amid the pause in fighting.

Zeinat Al-Gindy, who had come to Egypt for medical treatment before the war started, said,“We want to hug our kids. We want to be martyred amongst our children. In Egypt we are like a body without a soul. Our soul is with our kids, in our homeland, Gaza.”

The Chairman of Egypt’s State Information Service, in a statement, said that Palestinians will be permitted to enter Gaza from Egypt. “For the first time since the start of the aggression, the Egyptian side will allow the entry of Palestinians stranded in the country into the Gaza Strip at their will,” he said.

It was earlier reported that warning sirens were sounded Eilat by the Israeli military, as they feared a long-range aerial attack launched from Yemen. The armed forces of the country now said that it was a false alarm and “there is no indication of any security incident”, reported Reuters.

Head of Palestinian authority's commission for prisoners' affairs, Qadura Fares, said that 24 women and 15 teenaged males to be freed from Israeli jails. 

The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the four-day truce and thanked Qatar and Egypt for their "intensive diplomacy" to secure the deal. 

In a post on X, Sunak said: "The temporary truce has come into effect early on Friday; setting the stage for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel." 

He added, "This humanitarian pause is critical to end the terrible ordeal of hostages held by Hamas and get life-saving aid into Gaza. I want to thank Qatar, Egypt and others for the intensive diplomacy that has got us here. We will not stop until all hostages are safely returned." 

Fuel trucks and aid enter the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing after the truce started.  

The news agency Reuters said that one of its correspondent saw dozens of Israeli armoured vehicles, including tanks, moving away from the Gaza Strip in a column. It seems they have been pulled out of the Palestinian territory on Friday. 

There were no major reports of bombings, artillery strikes or rocket attacks as Israel and Hamas started a four-day ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, the first pause in a 48-day-old war that has devastated the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee has warned that the "war is not over yet". He sent an Arabic message to Palestinian civilians in Gaza via X, formerly Twitter. 

He said: "The humanitarian pause is temporary. The northern Gaza Strip is a dangerous war zone and it is forbidden to move north. For your safety, you must remain in the humanitarian zone in the south.

He added, "It is only possible to move from the north of the Strip to the south via Salah al-Din Road. The movement of residents from the south of the Strip to the north is not allowed and dangerous." 

Thailand said the government was "fully prepared" and had plans in place to receive any Thai hostages released by Hamas when it happens.  

Thailand's foreign affairs ministry said it was not able to confirm the news that 23 Thais would be among the first batch of hostages to be released.

"There's news circulating about the potential release of 23 Thai citizens, but we (Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs) can't confirm. Even though it's from direct media sources, it's not official news yet," FM Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said. 

Israeli warplanes over southern Gaza dropped leaflets warning people not to head back to the north.

As reported by the news agencies, the leaflets read: "The war is not over yet. Returning to the north is forbidden and very dangerous!!!" 

The Israeli military sounded sirens in two villages near the Gaza Strip on Friday. The sirens warned people of possible rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, just minutes after a truce came into force. 

So far, there was no immediate confirmation that rocket attacks occurred. 

The death toll from the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict has exceeded 16,200, according to official data released by both sides. Hamas' media office said on Thursday that 14,854 people in the Gaza Strip had been killed since Oct 7. 

Ismail al-Thawabta, director general of the media office, said that among the dead were 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, while more than 36,000 others were injured.

Just minutes before the truce theoretically came in effect at 7:00am (local time), Al Jazeera had reported an attack on a residential building in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Media reports said that Israeli strikes on Gaza have reportedly continued overnight. 

A four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war took effect at 7:00am (0500 GMT) on Friday.

A total of 13 hostages held in the Gaza Strip set to be released later in the day in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The truce agreement, negotiated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, brought the first pause in a seven-week-old war that has killed thousands of people.

Israel approved a hostage deal with Palestinian militant-political group Hamas on Wednesday (Nov 22) that was reportedly brokered by Qatar and had been more than a month in the making. 

Click here to read more...

A four-day ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is scheduled to begin at 7 AM (local time) on Friday (Nov 24); 10:30 AM (Indian Standard Time).

The truce, initially lasting four or five days, was announced early on Wednesday but the hopes of its extension have diluted after the release of hostages faced initial delays even after Wednesday.

The release of hostages is expected to follow on Friday afternoon. Israel and Hamas have exchanged lists of those to be released, with Hamas expected to free 13 women and children on first day, Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Ansari said.

Flares and explosions lit up the sky over northern Gaza in the early hours of Friday, shortly before the expected start of a truce in the Israel-Hamas war.

Fighting intensified around the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense urban district adjacent to Gaza City. The Israeli army said it has surrounded the area, targeting infrastructure of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Many residents have remained in the camp despite calls from the army for them to evacuate.

As part of the completed attack, the forces attacked and destroyed launch positions from which shots were fired at the territory of the country in recent days and military sites from which the groups militants operated.

Gaza's Hamas government said Thursday the death toll in the Palestinian territory had reached 14,854 since war began on October 7 between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

Video released on Thursday (November 23) by the Israeli Army shows soldiers allegedly finding weapons, tunnel shafts and missiles in what they say is in Gaza's Jabalia area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds security discussions with members of the War Cabinet in Tel Aviv, hours before a pause in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza due to begin after nearly seven weeks of fighting.

Hezbollah hold funeral for Abbas Raad, the son of Hezbollah MP Mohamed Raad, who was killed with four other militants in an Israeli strike on a house in Beit Yahoun village, a source close to the family told AFP, requesting anonymity.

Turkey plans to evacuate some wounded or sick Gazan children and young people on Friday as part of its third round of evacuation, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Thursday.

Turkey has so far brought 150 people, mostly cancer patients and their companions, from Gaza to continue their treatment. It has also evacuated more than 100 Turks, Turkish Cypriots, and their relatives this week.

US President Joe Biden expressed hope about a pending hostage release in the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

He told reporters at the fire station that he would not give an update on the hostages until Friday, but said he was keeping his "fingers crossed" that a 3-year-old American girl would be among those released first.

Protesters blocked hanksgiving parade in New York and chanted slogans like "Free Palestine" and "Genocide then, genocide now".

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari on Thursday (Nov 23) cautioned that there may be changes in the midst of the truce deal with Hamas to secure the release of the hostages, that the Palestinian militant group will attempt to use “psychological terror” against the Israeli public, as per the Times of Israel.

He said that the officials have contacted the hostages’ families and notified them who is being released, “with the necessary reservations.”

“These will be complex days, nothing is final until it actually happens. And even amid the process, there may be changes at any moment,” he said.

“It is important to note that Hamas is a ruthless enemy. Difficult days are ahead of us, joy mixed with sadness,” he said.

“Hamas will try to use the days of the deal and the pause in fighting to spread fear, disinformation and psychological terror,” Hagari warned.

A Palestinian doctor said Thursday at least 27 people had been killed and 93 more injured in an Israeli strike on a United Nations school in Gaza.

The strike hit a UN-run school where thousands of displaced Palestinians were sheltering in Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, the doctor at a hospital in the camp said on condition of anonymity.