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Israel has announced the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners following Hamas' handover of 13 Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, several hours behind schedule. At least four non-Israeli hostages (Hamas had initially said there were seven) are among those released. The Islamist organization had halted the delivery, saying Israel had allowed the delivery of less than half of the aid planned for northern Gaza, thus failing to comply with the agreement. The operation was only resumed after mediation by Qatar and Egypt, which according to the Islamist organization has managed to get Israel to commit to letting humanitarian aid into northern Gaza in the agreed amounts. The exchange takes place on the second day of the ceasefire agreed between the two sides, which also involves the entry of hundreds of trucks with humanitarian aid into the Strip and is expected to last until Monday. At least four people have been killed and four others wounded in an Israeli military operation in Jenin in the West Bank. In addition, a Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to boost negotiations over the hostages and try to extend the truce beyond Monday.
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El País
A Palestine Red Crescent ambulance is attacked near Ofer prison
The Palestine Red Crescent Society has reported that one of its ambulances in the occupied West Bank has been "attacked" near Ofer prison. The attack resulted in the rear window being broken, but the staff inside are safe, the organisation explained on its X account.
In a subsequent tweet, they again denounced that the Israeli army is obstructing and preventing its emergency medical services teams from reaching the wounded, "continuously inspecting ambulance vehicles." "They are also besieging the government hospital in Jenin and the Ibn Sina hospital," they added.
Dozens of Palestinians gathered in front of the vicinity of Ofer to await the release of the second round of prisoners, which has just begun.
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 23:52
El País
The 13 Israelis freed by Hamas are seven minors and six women
The Israeli government has reported that the group of 13 Israelis released today by Hamas is composed of six adult women and seven children and adolescents between the ages of three and 17.
With the exception of a young woman who was kidnapped at the Tribe of Nova music festival, all those released belong to Kibbutz Beeri, the scene of the bloodiest massacre perpetrated by the Palestinian militia Hamas on October 7.
"After undergoing an initial assessment of their medical condition, our forces will accompany the returnees until they reach their families in hospitals," Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari tweeted, also sharing a video of the moment the hostages entered Israel.
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 23:33
El País
Israel Announces Release of 39 Palestinian Prisoners
Israeli authorities have announced the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners after the surrender of 17 hostages, 13 of them Israelis, on Saturday. "The prison service is concluding the second phase of the release of prisoners, as part of the plan for the return home of the abductees," the Israeli prison service said in a statement.
Like yesterday, the prisoners will be released from Ofer prison in the West Bank and taken to the nearby Bethunia crossing, where they will pass into territory under the control of the Palestinian National Authority.
According to Al Jazeera, the list of prisoners Hamas hopes to see released on Saturday includes six women and 33 children. (AFP / EFE)
ACT.26 NOV 2023 - 00:12
El País
Israel confirms release of 13 Israeli and four Thai hostages
The Israeli army has received information from the International Committee of the Red Cross that 17 hostages released by Hamas include 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals, who have already been transferred to Egypt. The spokesman for the armed forces, Daniel Hagari, has published the following message on X:
"Recently, representatives of the Red Cross transferred the abductees to Egypt. According to information provided to the IDF, 17 abductees were transferred, including 13 Israelis and four Thai citizens. The convoy of hostages returning to Israel passes through Egyptian territory to the rendezvous point in Kerem Shalom."
Hamas has also confirmed the figure of 17 released, Reuters reports.
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 22:45
El País
Hamas says it has handed over 20 hostages to the Red Cross
Hamas' armed wing, the Ezedin al-Qassam Brigades, said on Saturday that it had handed over 20 hostages, 13 Israelis and seven non-Israelis, to the Red Cross. The delivery comes hours later than initially planned and an hour before the end of the day in Palestine.
The Israeli military has confirmed the information and indicated that, according to the Red Cross, the hostages are already on their way to the Rafah crossing, which separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt. (Reuters/EL PAÍS)
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 22:06
El País
Two killed, seven wounded in Israeli military operation in West Bank, Palestinian Authority says
At least two people were killed and seven others wounded on Saturday in an operation by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, according to the Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli forces attacked Jenin early Saturday afternoon "from several directions, firing bullets and surrounding government hospitals and the Red Crescent headquarters." (Reuters)
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 20:50
El País
Hamas says it will allow the release of hostages scheduled for today after mediation by Qatar and Egypt
The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced on Saturday that it will release Israeli hostages who were due to leave Gaza before midnight, according to an agreement reached with Israel, after having delayed their transfer by several hours. In a statement, Hamas said it had "responded positively to the Egyptian and Qatari efforts that lasted all day." Qatar has indicated that 20 hostages will finally be released, 13 Israelis and seven foreigners, while the Palestinian prisoners that Israel must release will finally be 39.
Hamas has said it has obtained "commitments" from Israel, in particular on the delivery of humanitarian aid in the northern Gaza Strip and on the release of long-held Palestinian prisoners. (AFP)
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 20:31
El País
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid are waiting to cross into the Gaza Strip on its border with Egypt. / MOHAMMED SABER / EFE
What has happened in the last few hours?
This is the most relevant news of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza at 20:15 p.m. on Saturday, November 25:
Hamas halts the delivery of hostages, saying Israel is in breach of an agreement to allow aid into northern Gaza. Delays and uncertainty surrounded the second Hamas-held exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons on Saturday afternoon. When the Israeli army had already announced that the hostages in Gaza were already in the hands of the Red Cross, according to the Haaretz newspaper, a statement from Hamas' armed wing announced the delay in the operation. The reason for the paralysis, according to Hamas, is its demand that Israel guarantee the entry of humanitarian aid into the northern Gaza Strip, where Israel is carrying out its ground offensive. According to a spokesman for the Islamist organization, 340 trucks have entered the Gaza Strip since Friday, when the agreement came into force, more than expected. However, of those, 65 have gone to northern Gaza, less than half of what was agreed with Israel, according to Hamas. Olivier Rafowicz, an Israeli army spokesman, told French broadcaster BFMTV on Saturday that the Israeli military expects Hamas to release 13 hostages held in Gaza today in exchange for the release of 39 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, Reuters reports.
A Qatari delegation arrives in Israel to negotiate the extension of the ceasefire agreement. A Qatari delegation arrived in Israel on Saturday to try to advance negotiations between the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Islamist militia Hamas for the release of the hostages and to extend the agreement for the ceasefire in Gaza, which began on Friday at 7:00 a.m. as reported by the Haaretz newspaper and confirmed by Reuters. Egyptian authorities also claim to have "positive signals" from all sides about a possible extension of the four-day truce agreed between Israel and Hamas, according to the head of Egypt's State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan.
Israel attacks Spain and Belgium again after Hamas thanks: "We will not forget who is with us". Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has described as "shameful and dishonorable" Hamas' thanks to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo for their "clear and bold" position in condemning the excesses of the Israeli military response to the organization after the October 7 attacks. "We will not forget who is with us in these times and who supports a terrorist and murderous organization that is holding more than 200 people hostage," he said on his X account (formerly Twitter).
A patrol of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon was hit by Israeli army fire, although no soldiers were injured. The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Saturday that one of its patrols was hit by Israeli army fire in the south of the country during a moment of calm on the border, adding that no members were injured. "Today, at around 12:00 local time, a UNIFIL patrol was hit by IDF [Israel Defense Forces] gunfire in the vicinity of Aytarun in southern Lebanon," the mission said on the X network (formerly Twitter).
A new pro-Palestinian demonstration brings tens of thousands of people to the streets of London. Tens of thousands of Britons rallied again in London on Saturday in support of the Palestinians, demanding a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, on the second day of a truce between Hamas and Israel. Despite the British government's efforts to secure a ban on the march by the police, the procession left Hyde Park at midday to end peacefully on Whitehall Street, where the government and parliament are located, with hundreds of Palestinian flags and banners with phrases such as "Stop bombing Gaza" and "End the siege".
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 20:15
El País
Israel attacks Spain and Belgium again after Hamas' thanks: "We will not forget who is with us"
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has described as "shameful and dishonorable" Hamas' thanks to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo for their "clear and bold" position in condemning the excesses of the Israeli military response to the organization after the October 7 attacks.
"We will not forget who is with us in these times and who supports a terrorist and murderous organization that is holding more than 200 people hostage," he said on his X account (formerly Twitter).
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 19:50
El País
Hamas says less than half of the agreed aid has reached northern Gaza
A Hamas spokesman, Osama Hamdan, confirmed on Saturday the delay in the delivery of the Israeli hostages scheduled for today and gave more details of the accusation that Israel is preventing humanitarian access to northern Gaza.
According to the spokesman, 340 trucks have entered the Strip since Friday, when the agreement came into force, of which 65 have gone to northern Gaza, the area where Israel is carrying out its ground offensive. According to the Islamist organization, this figure is less than half of what was agreed with Israel.
Hamas has warned the mediators of the agreement (including the United States, Egypt and Qatar) and assured that the organization remains committed to the truce. (Reuters)
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 19:20
Agencies
The demonstration runs through London's government district. / HOLLIE ADAMS / REUTERS
New Pro-Palestinian Demonstration Brings Tens of Thousands to London Streets
Tens of thousands of Britons rallied again in London on Saturday in support of the Palestinians, demanding a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, on the second day of a truce between Hamas and Israel.
Despite the British government's efforts to secure a ban on the march by the police, the procession left Hyde Park at midday to end peacefully on Whitehall Street, where the government and parliament are located, with hundreds of Palestinian flags and banners with phrases such as "Stop bombing Gaza" and "End the siege".
More than 1,500 police officers have been mobilised throughout the weekend, with nearly 500 reinforcements coming from other UK cities.
This is the first pro-Palestinian march in the British capital since a group of counter-demonstrators linked to the far right staged riots and clashes with the police on 11 November, which ended with more than a hundred arrests.
As of 17:00 p.m. Spanish time today, the Metropolitan Police had reported through its social networks the arrest of at least eight people, most of them for the distribution of propaganda that equated Israel with Nazi Germany. To avoid possible overflows, the officers today distributed a series of leaflets to the demonstrators warning that certain slogans or banners could lead to arrests and jail sentences
. (Agencies)
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 18:38
Luis de VegaJerusalem
Hamas' armed wing says it is delaying the handover of Israeli hostages until planned humanitarian aid enters northern Gaza
Delays and uncertainty surrounded the second Hamas-held exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons on Saturday afternoon. When the Israeli army had already announced that the hostages in Gaza were already in the hands of the Red Cross, according to the Haaretz newspaper, a statement from Hamas' armed wing announced the delay in the operation.
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades argue that Israel is not fulfilling its part of the agreement regarding the entry of trucks into Gaza with humanitarian aid and the release of prisoners from its prisons. On Saturday, 13 or 14 hostages and 39 or 42 prisoners were expected to be released, in all cases by both sides, women and minors. The agreement covers four days of exchanges, from Friday to Monday, and a total of 50 Israelis captured in the Strip by 150 Palestinian prisoners.
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 17:51
El País
A patrol of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon hit by Israeli army fire, although no soldiers were injured
The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Saturday that one of its patrols was hit by Israeli army fire in the south of the country during a moment of calm on the border, adding that no members were injured. "Today, at around 12:00 local time, a UNIFIL patrol was hit by IDF [Israel Defense Forces] gunfire in the vicinity of Aytarun in southern Lebanon," the mission said on the X network (formerly Twitter).
The mission said that "no peacekeepers were injured, but the vehicle was damaged. This incident occurred during a period of relative calm along the Blue Line, the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel.
Just on Friday, UNIFIL commander Spanish Lieutenant General Aroldo Lazaro urged those "exchanging fire" along the Blue Line to "stop this cycle of violence, firmly reminding everyone that any further escalation could have devastating consequences." In the statement, the UN mission called this attack "against peacekeepers, dedicated to reducing tensions and restoring stability in southern Lebanon" "deeply troubling."
After yesterday's relatively calm day on the border between Israel and Lebanon, in parallel to the truce in Gaza, the Israeli army confirmed early this morning that it shot down a surface-to-air missile before it entered its airspace, which was launched from Lebanon towards an Israeli surveillance drone. but that it "was unharmed and continued with its mission." "In response to the launch, Israel Defense Forces fighter jets attacked the terrorist infrastructure of Hezbollah [considered the most powerful paramilitary organization in the Middle East]. During the incident, an interceptor was also launched," a spokesman said.
During this morning, after that incident, sirens were activated twice on Israel's northern border due to the "infiltration of a suspicious aerial object," which in both cases was intercepted and shot down by Israeli air defense. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for attacks from Lebanon. Hezbollah has not announced any action against northern Israel since the implementation of the truce yesterday between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Sources close to Hezbollah had assured that it would adhere to the truce in the Palestinian enclave, but so far there has been no official announcement on the matter.
In the context of the Gaza war, Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in the worst cross-attacks since the war waged by the two in 2006, an outbreak that has already left more than 26,000 displaced, at least 77 dead and nearly 300 wounded in Lebanese territory alone. (Image: EFE)
ACT.25 NOV 2023 - 17:02