13 Israeli hostages freed in Israel-Hamas temporary truce

Thirteen Israeli women and child hostages were freed Friday as part of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas to free those civilians taken during the Oct 7 terrorist attack.

The Israeli hostages were transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza and were en route to the border crossing with Egypt, Israeli media reported.

Hamas on Friday will also release 12 Thai nationals in addition to the 13 Israelis, Egypt’s Head of the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan said.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin also confirmed the release of the Thai nationals.

“I have received confirmation from our national security team and ministry of foreign affairs that 12 Thai hostages have been released. Our RTE [Royal Thai Embassy] staffs are on their way to receive them,” Thavisin said in a post on X.

The release comes weeks after Americans Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were freed Friday, followed by two Israeli women, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Yitzhak, 79, who were handed over to the Red Cross Monday.

Lifshitz and Yitzhak, whose husbands are still being held hostage, were kidnapped from the Kibbutz Nir Oz, The Jerusalem Post reported. 

The terrorist group said on its Telegram channel that it released them for “compelling humanitarian” reasons.

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Lifshitz was kidnapped and taken through a “spiderweb” of tunnels by her captors, she claimed at a press conference Tuesday.

She also said the terrorists – who have killed infants – were “friendly in their way” and said they were “gentle with us, our needs were supplied.”

They made sure that we eat the food they ate: white cheese and cucumbers — that was the meal for the whole day,” she said.

Abu Ubaiba – a military spokesman from Al-Qassam Brigades, which operates in the West Bank – claimed Hamas willingly released the two women despite Israel’s refusal to stop its airstrikes against the terrorist group. 

“We have decided to release them for compelling humanitarian and satisfactory reasons despite the occupation committing more than 8 violations of the procedures that were agreed upon with the mediator brothers that the occupation would adhere to during this day to complete the handover process,” the announcement on Telegram said.

Last week, Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie, were released in Gaza and taken to a military base in Central Israel to be reunited with family,  the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X.

Photos showed the mother-daughter duo walking with military officials under the cover of nightfall. They were transferred from Gaza to the Israeli border by the Red Cross.

Biden spoke with the Illinois natives after their released, he announced on X, saying: “I just spoke with the two Americans released today after being held hostage by Hamas. I let them know that their government will fully support them as they recover and heal.”

Biden said last week that the US has Israel’s back, announcing $100 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.