In the context of a deal involving the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, Israel has freed 90 suspected Palestinian criminals, according to official statements.
Prior to the release of the hostages, the Hamas terrorist organization had handed over three hostages to the Israeli military. They were subsequently received by their families at the “Shiva-Tel Hashomer” medical center. The health status of the three women is reportedly stable.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the first trucks carrying food supplies reached the Gaza Strip on Sunday as part of the deal, arriving via the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south and the Zikim crossing in the north. The WFP aims to bring at least 150 trucks of food to the Gaza Strip daily and provide logistics services for partners.
“This is an important first step, but the need in the Gaza Strip is immense. Two million people have been in dire need of food and other basic necessities for too long” said Cindy McCain, executive director of the UN-affiliated organization. “After 15 months of war, all border crossings must remain open and function efficiently, effectively, and reliably. And we need humanitarian teams to be able to move freely and safely through the Gaza Strip to reach the most vulnerable.”
The deal between Israel and Hamas involves, among other things, the initial release of 33 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, from Israel. In return, Israel is expected to release almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The IDF troops are also set to withdraw gradually from the Gaza Strip. The fate of the remaining hostages is still unknown, as is the outcome of future negotiations. The ceasefire is initially expected to last for 42 days.