Hamas' al-Qassam releases 17 captives: 13 Israelis, 3 Thais, 1 Russian
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The International Committee of the Red Cross confirms that it has received the captives, which it handed over tonight as part of the exchange deal.
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International Red Cross vehicles carrying captives released by the Resistance group Hamas in Gaza on their way to Rafah Crossing on November 24, 2023 (AFP)
Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades said on Sunday that it handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 13 Israeli captives, in addition to three Thai and one Russian citizens.
As per the temporary truce agreement which constitutes a 3:1 release ratio - 3 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli captive - 39 additional Palestinian prisoners are expected to be liberated by the Resistance, similar to the exchange that took place on Saturday.
Upon Putin's request
"As part of the humanitarian truce and as part of the third phase of the exchange, we handed over to the Red Cross 13 Zionist [Israeli] detainees, three Thai detainees and one Russian detainee," the group posted on Telegram.
The Resistance party declared earlier today that it would release a captive with Russian citizenship "in response to efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin and as a sign of the recognition of Moscow's position in support for the Palestinian cause."
Read more: US fears journalists enter Gaza during truce, expose Israeli crimes
In another post, the group confirmed it has "handed over a captive with Russian citizenship to the Red Cross based on the intervention of the Russian President."
On her part, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed in a Telegram post that the release of the Russian national "took place not as part of lists for exchange of detainees," but It "concerned direct agreements between Russian representatives and Hamas."
Not to Egypt this time
On its part, the ICRC said it has begun receiving 13 Israeli captives and five foreigners from the Palestinian Resistance group.
According to Israeli media, unlike the first prisoner exchange process on Saturday, captives this time will not be handed over through the Rafah Crossing to Egypt. Rather, they will be transferred directly from Gaza into occupied territories through a border point.
Read more: Palestinian Resistance frees 39 new prisoners from Israeli prisons
'Beyond tomorrow'
Following reports that an American citizen might be included in the exchange list, US President Joe Biden said on Sunday that the Resistance handed over a 4-year-old US national, who has since been transferred into "Israel".
In a press briefing, Biden said he hopes the temporary truce extends "beyond tomorrow" - when the current 4-day truce expires - adding that he expects that Hamas would release more American citizens.
Today, 13 more hostages – including a fellow American – were released by Hamas under a deal brokered and sustained through intensive U.S. diplomacy.
— President Biden (@POTUS) November 26, 2023
We continue to press that additional Americans be released.
And we will not stop working until every hostage is returned. pic.twitter.com/stRApNxMEE
"That's my goal, that's our goal, to keep this pause going beyond tomorrow so that we can continue to see more hostages come out and surge more humanitarian relief into those in need in Gaza."
The three-day-old truce "is delivering live-saving results," Biden added.
"Critically needed aid is going in, and hostages are coming out."
Meanwhile, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that he is "confident" all captives will be released, and all Americas will "come home".
The United States is "determined not to rest" until US citizens are released, Sullivan said in a show aired on CBS.
Read more: Truce violated: Palestinian farmer killed, others injured by 'Israel'
Following over 6 weeks of the Israeli brutal war on Gaza, which was accompanied by a near-complete blockade, a full siege on the residents, and over 1,300 massacres during the short period, the Resistance was able to enforce its initial conditions of not releasing any Israeli captive unless through an indirect prisoner exchange.
The captive's release comes as part of the previously announced prisoner exchange agreement between the occupation entity and Resistance group Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, which will see the liberation of 150 Palestinian prisoners in total from Israeli jails.
