Israel receives 17 hostages released by Hamas, as 39 Palestinians held in prisons freed

Hamas released 13 Israelis and four foreigners late Saturday in the second round of swaps under a ceasefire deal, the Israeli military said, after the militant group initially delayed the exchange for several hours and claimed that Israel had violated the terms of the agreement.

The Israeli militarysaid the released hostages including four Thaishad been transferred to Israel. They were being taken to hospitals for observation and to be reunited with their families.

Shortly after midnight, Israel began releasing 39 Palestinian prisoners to East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank as part of the swap that ultimately went through after international mediation efforts.

The Associated Press reported that hundreds of people greeted the International Committee of the Red Cross bus carrying Palestinians who were released from Israeli prisons as it arrived in the West Bank city of Al Bireh early Sunday.

Released Palestinian woman Shurouq Duwiyat arrived at her home in Jerusalem, where joyous family members hugged and kissed her.

"We send a message to our people in Gaza that we stand by your side and support you," Duwiyat told reporters inside her home.

Hundreds of Palestinians waited in the West Bank town of Beitunia for the arrival of additional prisoners.

The Israeli hostages released Saturday by Hamas included seven children and six women, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced. Most of the released hostages were from Kibbutz Be'eri, a community ravaged byHamas militants during their Oct. 7 cross-border attack, a spokesperson for the kibbutz said. The children ranged in age from threeto 16, and the women's ages ranged from 18 to 67.

According to the state of Israel'saccount on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the following Israeli hostages were among those released:

• Sharon Avigdori
• Noam Avigdori
• Noam Or
• Alma Or
• Emily Hand
• Shoshan Haran
• Adi Shoham
• Naveh Shoham
• Yahel Shoham
• Maya Regev
• Shiri Weiss
• Noga Weiss
• Hila Rotem

Thailand'sprime ministersaid on social mediathe four Thais released are "on the whole in good shape."

"They want a shower and to contact their relatives,"Srettha Thavisinsaid on X.

Delay causes confusion

The last-minute delay had created a tense standoff on the second day of what's meant to be a four-day ceasefire.

By nightfall, as the hostages should have emerged from Gaza, Hamas alleged that the aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised and that not enough of it was reaching northern Gaza the focus of Israel's ground offensive and main combat zone. Hamas also said not enough veteran Palestinian detainees were freed in the first swap on Friday.

"This is putting the deal in danger," senior Hamas official Osama Hamdansaid in Beirut.

But Egypt, Qatar and Hamas itself later said obstacles had been overcome, and Hamas listed six women and 33 teenage boys it said were expected to be released by the Israelis.

Toll of war

A total of 50 hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days under the truce, the first halt in fighting since the Oct. 7attackthat saw1,200 people killed and about 240 hostages taken, the Israeli government said.

In response, Israel has vowed to destroy the Hamas militants who run Gaza, raining bombs and shells on the enclave and launching a ground offensive in the north. To date, some 14,800 peopleroughly 40 per centof them childrenhave been killed, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministrysaid Saturday.

Before the delay to the latest hostage and prisoner exchange, Egypt, which controls the Rafah border crossing through which aid supplies have resumed into southern Gaza, said it had received "positive signals" from all parties over a possible truce extension.

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service,said in a statement that Cairo was holding extensive talks with all parties to reach an agreement thatwould mean "the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails."

Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said up to 100 hostages could go free.

Early on Sunday, Netanyahu's office said it received a new list of hostages slated to be released later in the day in the third of four scheduled swaps.

'Sensitive moments' forfamilies

After nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances carrying the freed hostages emerged from Gaza through the Rafahborder crossing into Egypt. The freed Israelis included nine women and four children aged nineand under.

The released hostages were taken to three Israeli hospitals for observation. The Schneider Children's Medical CenterinPetah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, said it was treating eight Israelis four children and four women and that all appeared to be in relatively good physical condition. The centre said they were also receiving psychological treatment, adding that "these are sensitive moments" for the families.

WATCH |Released Israeli children in good condition, hospital pediatric director says:

Released Israeli children in good condition, hospital pediatric director says

11 months ago

Duration 1:33

The child hostages released on the first day of the truce between Israel and Hamas are being cared for at the Schneider Children's Medical Center. Gilat Livni, the director of pediatrics, says the children are in good condition and have even asked to stay at the hospital for a few days.

"Sometimes I have tears in my eyes," said Dr. Gilat Livni,the hospital'sdirector of pediatrics who was there as the first group of children came to the hospital and reunited with their families.

"We just listened to the parents, to the mothersand the kidsas theyspoke about what's happened during these 50 days," Livnisaid in an interview with CBC News on Saturday.

Livni said the former hostages are in "reasonable condition."

WATCH |Israeli father of hostage 'overjoyed' as he awaits news on his son:

His son is still being held by Hamas but he's 'overjoyed' to see some hostages released

11 months ago

Duration 3:05

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose 35-year-old son Sagui is being held in Gaza, says he's committed to securing the release of everyone held by Hamas.

They have alllost some weightand some were suffering from diarrhea and infectious diseases.They ate mostly plain food, like rice and vegetables while in Gaza, she said.

Livnisaid the new patients have received medical tests, including eye exams, as it's believed they spentmost of their time in Gaza underground. When asked where the hostages slept, Livni pointed to the floor.

Ohad Munder, who marked his ninth birthday in captivity,was released with his mother and grandmother, but his 78-year-old grandfather remains in Gaza. He is one of the four children at the hospital.

WATCH |Doctor explains how medical teams will help Hamas hostages after release:

Doctor explains how medical teams will help Hamas hostages after release

11 months ago

Duration 1:03

Dr. Hagai Levine, who leads a medical team that will assist hostages, says medical teams will look to address any urgent medical needs first and then turn to emotional, psychological and other needs.

"I dreamt we came home," said another former hostage, four-year-old RazAsher, who was freed along with her mother andtwo-year-old sister, Aviv.

"Now the dreamcame true," her father, Yoni, replied.

In Thailand, where authorities welcomed the release of 10 of its nationals under a separate deal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, a mother danced for joy when she saw that her daughter, Natthawaree Mulkan, was among the hostages released by Hamas.

"I was elated.... I came out and danced," 56-year-old Bunyarin Srijan said, pointing to her patio.

For Palestinians, however, joy at the release of detainees from Israeli jails had a bitter tinge to it. Israeli police were seen raiding the home of Sawsan Bkeer on Friday shortly before her 24-year-old daughterwas released. Israeli police declined to comment.

"There is no real joy, even this little joy we feel as we wait," saidthe mother ofMarah Bkeer, who was jailed for eight years on knife and assault charges in 2015."We are still afraid to feel happy."