The Tel Aviv armed forces confirm the release of another 14 Israeli and 3 Thai hostages by Hamas, handed over to the Red Cross as part of the temporary ceasefire agreement.
After crossing the Rafah crossing, between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, the 17 were taken to safety by the authorities of the Jewish state.
In contrast, the Palestinian Authority released another 39 detainees, stressing that they are all minors and that most are from Jerusalem.
The truce in the Middle East is expected to last until Monday, but many parties are working to extend the ceasefire agreement. The hypothesis, which Hamas would find favorable, was also at the center of a conversation between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The latter said he was open to the possibility of obtaining the release of other hostages, but to Biden and during an inspection of the armed forces located in the north of the Strip he explained: "We will go all the way, until we win." Adding: «Nothing will stop us. We are convinced that we have the strength, power, will and determination to achieve all the objectives of the war, and we will do so."
Netanyahu also reiterated Israel's objectives, namely: «The destruction of Hamas, the recovery of all kidnapped people and the guarantee that Gaza can no longer represent a threat to our country».
(Unioneonline/lf)