24 hostages and 39 Palestinians released in Israel-Hamas Cease fire
Twenty-four hostages were released from Gaza and 39 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails amid a four-day cease-fire, causing jubilation in the West Bank and hope in Israel.
Raucous crowds packed West Bank streets to celebrate the release of Palestinians under an agreement expected to result in the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza.
Among those released by militants were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino, a Qatari official said.
“Today the world watched and breathed a collective sigh of relief,” he said. But he added, “But we must never lose sight of ... babies who were not reunited with their loved ones, who are still being held by Hamas.”
The IDF warned Gaza residents who moved south not to return to the war-torn north amid the cease-fire, indicating that more bloody warfare was likely when the cease-fire ends.
More than 1.7 million people have been displaced in Gaza, and the death toll has surpassed 14,500, health officials in Gaza have said.
Hagari said it’s not over yet.
Fighting must resume in order to secure the freedom of all the hostages, put an end to enemy Hamas and its threat to Israel’s existence and ensure that Oct. 7 happens “never again,” he said.