Hamas releases 13 Israeli hostages and 4 foreign nationals in second exchange

(Patria) - Hamas announced on Saturday evening that its armed wing handed over 13 Israeli hostages and four foreign nationals to the International Red Cross, agencies reported.

The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross, a spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday. He added that 17 hostages are on their way to Rafah.

Hamas had previously confirmed that the second release of Israeli hostages captured in the October 7 attacks, according to the truce agreement, would follow a delay.

Hamas has "responded positively" to Egyptian and Qatari mediators to ensure
the continuation of the truce agreement, the statement said, after they conveyed Israel's promise to "support all the terms of the agreement".

"After the delay, the obstacles to the release of prisoners were overcome through Qatari-
Egyptian contacts with both sides, and this evening 39 Palestinian civilians will be released, while 13 Israeli hostages will leave Gaza in addition to 7 foreigners," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari.

Hamas's armed wing had previously announced that it was postponing the handover of the second group of hostages to be released under the truce agreement until Israel "adheres to the terms of the agreement".

The entry of humanitarian aid into the northern Gaza Strip and the selection criteria for the release of prisoners were at issue, according to the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades statement.

Osama Hamdan, Hamas representative in Lebanon, told Al Mayadeen television channel that the suspension occurred due to truce violations committed by Israel "related to aid (entering Gaza), in addition to shooting and the increasing number of casualties... Some of (these violations) happened yesterday, and they were repeated today," Hamdan said.