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The Israeli army has confirmed that the 12 hostages released on Tuesday — ten Israeli citizens and two Thai citizens — are already in Israeli territory. In exchange, Israel has released 30 Palestinian prisoners, the Israeli prison service has announced. The exchange has taken place thanks to the extension of the truce, which was due to expire this past morning. After international pressure on Monday, negotiations continue to extend the agreement beyond Thursday, although in the last few hours the fragility of the agreement has become more evident. The Israeli military and the Islamist group Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce in place in the Strip after an incident in northern Gaza in which several Israeli soldiers were wounded. In addition, the U.S. has called on Israel not to cause another mass displacement of Palestinians if it extends its offensive to southern Gaza. Washington has called on the Israeli government to limit the damage following a campaign that has killed some 15,000 people in the Gaza Strip, most of them women and children, according to Gaza officials.
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El País
Thailand's Foreign Minister Receives Two New Freed Thai Hostages
Parnpree Bahiddha Nukara, received on Tuesday night two new Thai hostages freed by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) thanks to the humanitarian pause agreed with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Commenting on the incident, the official said: "Happy to personally welcome two more Thai hostages who have just been released and arrived at the Tel Aviv hospital. A totally warm feeling to see how the former 17 queued to receive and give moral support to the two new arrivals," he posted on the social network X.The hostages were released around 23:00 p.m. (local time) and belong to the fourth group of hostages who have been handed over.
So far, 17 Thais have been released by the Palestinian militia. However, 39 Thai citizens were also killed during the attacks on 7 October.
The head of Thai diplomacy has met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who told him that he will ensure the protection of Thai nationals in Israel and has pledged the "immediate release" of those still in captivity.
ACT.29 NOV 2023 - 03:01
El País
U.S. Sends 24 Tons of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. on Tuesday sent the first of three planes to Egypt, which are loaded with humanitarian supplies for civilians in Gaza.
The aircraft, which landed on Gaza's border with Egypt, was carrying at least 24 tons of food, medical supplies and winter equipment. A day earlier, US President Joe Biden had announced that he would take advantage of the extension of the truce to bring more aid to the area.
"The humanitarian needs in Gaza demand that the international community do much more. The United States is committed to this effort," reads a document signed by Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor. The senior official added that his government will work to "mobilize the international community to rapidly increase support."
For its part, the United Nations will bring aid from Egypt's North Sinai region." These U.N. supplies will save lives and alleviate the suffering of thousands in Gaza," Sullivan added.
Qatar, which has been the great mediator of the truce, announced on Monday that the humanitarian pause that was initially to be four days will be extended for 48 hours. The idea is for Hamas to release more hostages kidnapped during the attack on Israel.
ACT.29 NOV 2023 - 03:22
El País
G7 countries call for extension of humanitarian pause in Gaza
The countries that are part of the G7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, have positioned themselves in favor of extending the humanitarian pause between the Israeli army and Hamas.
"This agreement is a crucial step in bringing all remaining hostages home and addressing the scope of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We call on all parties to take advantage of the provisions of the agreement and ensure that increased humanitarian assistance continues to reach civilians," a joint statement said.
The group of countries also urges in its statement to ensure that aid, such as food, medical supplies, and water, reaches civilians quickly and effectively. They also called for the "facilitated departure of all foreign citizens. We remain steadfast in our commitment to work with all partners in the region to prevent the conflict from worsening further," it reads.
The group's foreign ministers highlighted the key role played by the United States and other countries in the region such as Qatar and Egypt. Along with the UN's significant efforts in delivering humanitarian aid during the first four days of the agreement.
ACT.29 NOV 2023 - 03:14
El País
Ahmad Salaima is welcomed by his mother upon his arrival at his home after being released from prison by Israel on Tuesday, along with 29 other Palestinians / AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP
Israel's Prison Service Reports It Has Released 30 Palestinian Prisoners
Israel's prison service has announced that it has released 30 Palestinian prisoners, 15 women and 15 children, from Israeli jails late on Tuesday in the fifth exchange under an expanded truce deal with Hamas militants. In a statement, the service said the 30 Palestinians had been released from Ofer prison near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and from a detention center in Jerusalem.
This pact between Israel and the Palestinian militia provides for the exchange of one Israeli hostage for every three Palestinian prisoners. The 10 Israeli hostages freed on Tuesday are already on Israeli soil. In addition, two other Thai abductees have also been released in Gaza, and are also in Israel. (Reuters)
ACT.28 NOV 2023 - 21:38
El País
Qatar confirms that 12 people were released on Tuesday
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari confirmed that 12 hostages were released in Gaza on Tuesday, including 10 Israelis and two Thais. In an earlier message on his X account (formerly Twitter), he had stated that, according to the commitments of the fifth day of truce, there would be an exchange of 10 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 30 Palestinian prisoners. Since the start of the truce, the release of Thai hostages has never been counted under the terms of the agreement between Israel and Hamas, which provides for the release of one Israeli hostage for every three Palestinian prisoners released. The 10 Israelis are nine women and one minor, Israeli authorities have also indicated. In Al Ansari's previous message, he specified that there were four people with dual nationality (one from Austria, two from Argentina and one from the Philippines). Now, in this new tweet, he points out that there is one person from the Philippines and two from Argentina.
ACT.28 NOV 2023 - 21:07
El País
Islamic Jihad says it was holding some of the hostages released today
The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamist Islamic Jihad organization, announced on Tuesday on its Telegram social network account that they have handed over "some detained civilians" as part of the hostage-for-prisoner exchange agreement with Israel that has allowed the ceasefire.
In images released by Hamas of Tuesday's hostage-handover process, members of both Hamas' armed wing and Islamic Jihad were present at the scene. (Reuters)
ACT.28 NOV 2023 - 20:47
El País
The 12 hostages freed on Tuesday are 10 Israelis and two Thais
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has reported that the 12 hostages released on Tuesday in Gaza are 10 Israelis and two Thais who "have returned to Israel today." According to a message posted on his profile on the social network X (formerly Twitter), the families have already been informed of his return. "The Government of Israel is committed to the return of all hostages and missing persons," he said in a second message. The ages of the 10 freed Israelis range from 17 to 84.
ACT.28 NOV 2023 - 20:42
El País
U.N. refugee shelters are more than four times full
An average of 9,558 Palestine refugees are sheltered in each of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees' (UNRWA) shelters in the Gaza Strip, which are more than four times their capacity, the agency said in its daily report.
This figure does not include refugees in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces are conducting their ground offensive, where figures have not been updated since 12 October.
The agency said humanitarian aid provided by the truce was already reaching its three main warehouses in the Gaza Strip. 109 UNRWA staff have been killed since the Hamas attack on 7 October, one more than yesterday.
ACT.28 NOV 2023 - 20:40
El País
The 12 hostages freed on Tuesday are already in Israeli territory
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that an elite army unit and a Shin Bet force are currently escorting the 12 hostages who are already in Israeli territory. After an initial medical examination, Israeli forces accompany them until they reach their destination. "Families are in hospitals," Hagari said. And he added in a second message on the same social network: "We will continue to work together with the organs of the security system for the return of all the hostages." In his message, Hagari asked for patience and respect for the privacy of the returnees and their families.
ACT.28 NOV 2023 - 20:24
El País
160 more bodies found in last 24 hours in Gaza
Some 160 bodies of Palestinians have been found under the rubble of Gaza in the past 24 hours, while some 6,500 people are still missing, the Hamas-controlled Gaza government's Communication Office said on Tuesday.
"Civil defense teams continue to recover dozens of dead from under the rubble and from the streets and highways using manual and primitive methods, as 160 dead were recovered in the last few hours," he said in a statement, on the sidelines of the fifth day of truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, "almost 6,500 people are still missing, including more than 4,700 women and children", in addition to the more than 15,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli bombardments confirmed so far. (Image: EFE)
ACT.28 NOV 2023 - 20:15