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Israel-Hamas war: More hostages return, truce expiry looms
Published 11/29/2023Published November 29, 2023last updated 2 hours agolast updated 2 hours ago
Israel says the latest group of hostages freed by Hamas are back inside its borders. Meanwhile, mediators are still scrambling to extend a truce that’s set to expire after this sixth exchange of prisoners. DW has more.
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A Red Cross vehicle, as part of a convoy carrying hostages abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel, at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt
Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas released two hostages with Russian citizenship separately, also the Red CrossImage: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/REUTERS
Skip next section What you need to know
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Israel’s military and Hamas both say the latest hostage exchange has begun, with 10 Israelis and four Thais handed over to the Red Cross
Hamas also separately released two Russians on Wednesday
Talks held in Qatar seeking to extend the current truce between Israel and Hamas
The truce is currently scheduled to expire on Thursday
Hamas militants say youngest hostage, brother and mother killed in an earlier Israeli bombing; Israel says it is checking that claim
Skip next section Thirty Palestinian prisoners freed
2 hours ago2 hours ago
Thirty Palestinian prisoners freed
The Israel Prison Service said 30 Palestinian prisoners had been freed early on Thursday.
The prison authority said that the prisoners were released from various facilities in Israel, the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, in the sixth exchange under the truce.
Earlier on Wednesday the Islamist militant group Hamas released 16 hostages from the Gaza Strip.
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Skip next section Three of the released hostages had German dual nationality
3 hours ago3 hours ago
Three of the released hostages had German dual nationality
Qatar, which mediated the current truce between Israel and Hamas, issued more details on the hostages exchanged on Wednesday.
Of the 10 Israelis released, three also held German nationality, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesman in Doha.
Another was an Israeli-American dual national, while another also held Dutch citizenship.
The Netherlands’ outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte acknowledged the Dutch dual national’s release on social media, saying he was “delighted and relieved” at the 18-year-old man’s release. “After this horrific experience he can now finally be reunited with his family and friends,” Rutte said.
He also said it was “vital” that the remaining hostages be freed immediately.
Hamas also released four Thai nationals and two Russians on Wednesday. Israel will likely release 30 Palestinian prisoners, three times the 10 Israeli citizens freed, under the terms of the truce.
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Skip next section Blinken arrives in Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli leadership
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Blinken arrives in Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli leadership
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday for talks with Israeli leaders.
Ahead of the visit, Blinken has said the trip was aimed at prolonging the pause in fighting which is due to expire.
This is Blinken’s third visit to the Middle East since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, sparked by the October 7 terror attack.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken disembarks from his airplane upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel AvivUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken disembarks from his airplane upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration would like to see a new extension of the cease-fire agreement in the war between Israel and HamasImage: Saul Loeb/Pool/AP/picture alliance
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Skip next section Israeli PM’s office says hostages back in Israel
4 hours ago4 hours ago
Israeli PM’s office says hostages back in Israel
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the group of 10 Israelis and four Thai nationals released by Hamas had reached Israel.
“The Government of Israel embraces the 14 hostages – ten of our citizens and four foreign nationals – who returned to Israeli territory today. Their families have been updated by the responsible officials that they have returned to the country,” Netanyahu’s office said on social media.
This confirmation came soon after their handover to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza.
The ICRC in turn said it had facilitated the transfer.
Israel’s military also said that an elite IDF unit was accompanying the hostages.
“After they undergo an initial assessment of their medical condition, our forces will accompany the returnees until they arrive at their families in the hospitals,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hadari said.
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Skip next section IDF and Hamas both say exchange underway
5 hours ago5 hours ago
IDF and Hamas both say exchange underway
Both Israel’s military and Hamas officials have said that the Islamist militant group has handed a group of Israeli hostages over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza.
“According to the information provided by the Red Cross, 10 Israeli abductees and four abductees with Thai citizenship are on their way to Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces said on social media.
This has been standard practice for the hostage releases each evening, with ICRC staff then bringing them back to Israeli territory.
The figure of 10 Israelis matches the number expected to be released on Wednesday. In the past, such figures tended to be close, but not always entirely accurate.
If 10 Israelis are freed on Wednesday, Israel will most likely release 30 Palestinian prisoners, given an agreed three-to-one ratio for these swaps.
Hamas also released two hostages with Russian citizenship earlier on Wednesday.
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Skip next section China says two-state solution key to lasting peace in Middle East
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China says two-state solution key to lasting peace in Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the UN Security Council that the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas showed the need for a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
“We should revitalize the political prospects of the two-state solution,” Wang said, describing the lack of a Palestinian state as “the crux of the repeated turbulence in the Palestinian-Israeli situation.”
China called Wednesday’s meeting as it currently holds the Security Council’s rotating presidency of the Security Council.
Like UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who addressed the session first, Wang called for the brokering of a “comprehensive and lasting cease-fire with the greatest urgency.”
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud — standing with counterparts from Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia — told reporters that the aid that had entered the Gaza Strip during the few days of truce was “far less than needed.”
“The danger is that if … this truce expires, we will return to the killing at the scale that we have seen, which is unbearable,” Prince Faisal said. “We are here to make a clear statement that a truce is not enough. What is needed is a cease-fire.”
Außenminister Prinz Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spricht vor einem Treffen des UN-Sicherheitsrates zur Konfliktlage zwischen Israel und HamasAußenminister Prinz Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spricht vor einem Treffen des UN-Sicherheitsrates zur Konfliktlage zwischen Israel und Hamas
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive ceasefireImage: Brendan McDermid/REUTERS
Meanwhile, Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the session that support for a lasting cease-fire was tantamount to support for Hamas retaining control of Gaza, which the militant, Islamist group has ruled since 2007.
“Anyone who supports a cease-fire basically supports Hamas’ continued reign of terror in Gaza. Hamas is a genocidal terror organization — they don’t hide it — not a reliable partner for peace,” Erdan said.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said the truce must become a “permanent cease-fire” and that “the massacres cannot be allowed to resume.”
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that as Israel “exercises its rights to safeguard its people from acts of terror,” the US had urged it to “take every possible measure” to prevent or limit civilian casualties.
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Skip next section Two boys killed in occupied West Bank — Palestinian Authority Health Ministry
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Two boys killed in occupied West Bank — Palestinian Authority Health Ministry
The Israeli military killed two Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
An 8-year-old and a 15-year-old were killed during a raid on the Jenin refugee camp, health officials said.
Security footage showed a group of boys in the street who started to run, except for one who fell to the ground, bleeding.
The Israeli military said its troops fired on people who threw explosives at them but did not specify if it was referring to the boys, who were not seen throwing anything in the security footage.
The deadly Hamas October 7 attacks in Israel, which left over 1,200 dead, has flared violence in the West Bank, with some 240 Palestinians killed by either Israeli soldiers or settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
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Skip next section IDF says 2 released hostages not part of day’s scheduled exchange
8 hours ago8 hours ago
IDF says 2 released hostages not part of day’s scheduled exchange
Israel’s military said on social media that two Israeli nationals had been handed to the Red Cross and were on their way to Israeli territory.
“According to information provided by the Red Cross, two Israeli abductees were transferred to them and are on their way to Israeli territory,” the IDF wrote on social media. “Their release is in addition to the list of abductees scheduled to be released today.”
Israeli media, including Haaretz, reported that the two people released also held Russian citizenship.
Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the US, EU, Germany, and several other countries, earlier said the women were handed over to the Red Cross, “after the efforts of the Russian president.”
In several cases over the past days, dual nationals or foreign nationals have been released in addition to the main exchanges of Hamas’ Israeli hostages and Israel’s Palestinian prisoners — with these primary swaps taking place at an agreed ratio of three Palestinians per Israeli.
The sixth and possibly final such exchange was expected on Wednesday evening, with the truce currently scheduled to expire on Thursday.
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Skip next section WHO’s Tedros: More than half Gaza hospitals inoperable
9 hours ago9 hours ago
WHO’s Tedros: More than half Gaza hospitals inoperable
The head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday appealed for efforts to safeguard Gaza’s struggling health care infrastructure.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that only 15 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals were still functioning and that they were “completely overwhelmed.”
“Of the 25 hospitals north of the Wadi Gaza [river] before the conflict began, only three are functioning at the most basic level, but they lack fuel, water and food,” Tedros said. “The remaining health system capacity must be protected, supported and expanded.”
WHO officials also warned on Wednesday of the risk of infectious disease spreading in the understocked facilities.
“With severe overcrowding, the risks are increasing for epidemics of respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhea, hepatitis, scabies, lice and other diseases,” Tedros said.
The WHO’s Mike Ryan, meanwhile, said the health monitoring system was also losing its ability to keep track of such developments, as it was no longer possible to send samples to Israel or the West Bank for diagnosis.
“Not only has Gaza lost its hospital capability, it has lost its ability to confirm even the most basic of diseases,” Ryan said. “This creates a blindspot where we have huge risk of epidemic diseases.”
Despite having welcomed a truce that is now in its sixth day, the WHO has warned that already dire conditions could deteriorate further if hostilities resume.
Director-General Tedros said he believed that “the humanitarian pause, or even the cease-fire, is possible if those with influence can take it seriously,” calling the brokering of a more permanent deal “a matter of will.”
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Skip next section IDF spokesman: ‘We will take the war to Hamas wherever they are hiding’
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IDF spokesman: ‘We will take the war to Hamas wherever they are hiding’
Colonel Peter Lerner, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), told DW on Wednesday that it was possible that Israel’s military might expand its operations in the south of Gaza.
“We are operating currently on a day-to-day basis,” Lerner said. “Our primary goal currently is to bring home the hostages, to rescue the hostages, and that is why we are holding our fire.
“We are maintaining our defensive positions in northern Gaza Strip, and indeed preparing our offensive plans for the next stages,” he said.
Lerner said the IDF’s operations in the north of Gaza were still not complete, but “we have seen that Hamas over the last few days also continued to operate in the south.”
Lerner said Hamas attacked IDF forces with explosives in the north three times on Tuesday, even amid the six-day truce and hostage-prisoner exchange.
“We will take the war to Hamas wherever they are hiding, in order to achieve our goal. Hamas needs to be dismantled: Hamas is holding Israelis hostage, it’s holding foreign nationals hostage — it’s also holding the people of Gaza hostage,” Lerner said.
What’s next after the truce ends?
06:33
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Skip next section UN’s Guterres: ‘We believe we need a true humanitarian cease-fire’
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UN’s Guterres: ‘We believe we need a true humanitarian cease-fire’
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterreswarned on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an “epic humanitarian catastrophe,” urging the Security Council: “We must not look away.”
Guterres said that an “estimated 45% of all homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed” and that the next goal should be a more lasting truce.
“Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce, which we strongly welcome, but we believe we need a true humanitarian cease-fire,” he told a UN Security Council meeting, chaired by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The current truce is scheduled to expire early on Thursday after a six-day pause in the conflict marked by daily hostage and prisoner exchanges.
It has already been extended once, for two additional days.
Conflict mediator Qatar said that negotiators were now working for a “sustainable” cease-fire.
“I welcome the arrangement reached by Israel and Hamas — with the assistance of the governments of Qatar, Egypt and the United States,” Guterres said.
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Skip next section German president thanks Qatar for role in ‘life-saving’ deal on hostages
12 hours ago12 hours ago
German president thanks Qatar for role in ‘life-saving’ deal on hostages
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier shakes hands with Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al ThaniGerman President Frank-Walter Steinmeier shakes hands with Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Steinmeier met with Qatar’s emir, urging for continued efforts to free remaining hostagesImage: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa/picture alliance
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked Qatari officials for their “successful” and “life-saving efforts” in negotiating a deal on the release of hostages held by the Islamist militant group Hamas in exchange for a temporary cease-fire and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israel.
The comments to reporters came following talks with Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during his brief visit to the Gulf State.
The German president said Qatar “used its influence here in the region and also on Hamas” to mediate the deal. Germany is among several countries, along with the US and EU, that designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Dozens of hostages have been freed so far under the extended truce, enabling people to “return to their families and were able to be embraced by their loved ones” once again.
Steinmeier said they could “return to their families and were able to be embraced by their loved ones.”
The German president said he asked the emir “to continue efforts to help free the hostages” that are still being held by Hamas and to keep the German nationals who are still held hostage into account.
“I hope that we can expect good news in the next few days,” Steinmeier said.
Qatar was the final stop on the German president’s three-day trip to the Middle East, following talks in Israel and Oman.
Steinmeier’s visit to Qatar on Wednesday got off to an unusual start, as he was left waiting in his airplane for almost 30 minutes before Qatari officials arrived.
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Skip next section Hamas says youngest hostage held in Gaza killed in airstrikes
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Hamas says youngest hostage held in Gaza killed in airstrikes
The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas said three Israeli hostages were killed in previous Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Qassam Brigades said a 10-month-old, believed to be the youngest Israeli hostage captured by the militant group, was killed alongside his 4-year-old brother and their mother.
The Israeli army said it was checking the claim.
“Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip,” it added in a statement.
Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the US and Germany, among other countries.
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Skip next section Blinken says next Israel visit to focus on extending truce
14 hours ago14 hours ago
Blinken says next Israel visit to focus on extending truce
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that his upcoming visit to Israel would focus on prolonging the ongoing pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip.
“Looking at the next couple of days, we’ll be focused on doing what we can to extend the pause so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in,” Blinken said after a NATO meeting in Brussels.
He added that an extension of the truce would “by definition” entail the release of more hostages and the entry of more aid into Gaza.
The US State Department announced on Monday that Blinken would visit Israel, the West Bank and the United Arab Emirates this week.
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Skip next section Hamas says it will release some Russian hostages outside of deal with Israel
15 hours ago15 hours ago
Hamas says it will release some Russian hostages outside of deal with Israel
Mousa Abu Marzouk from the militant Islamist group Hamas said Wednesday that the only adult male hostage released from Gaza was a Israeli-Russian national, and his release was “out of gratitude” for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position on the ongoing conflict.
He added that more hostages with Russian citizenship would be released from Gaza alongside 10 Israeli hostages later in the day, noting that the Russians’ release was not part of the ongoing hostage deal with Israel.
Putin, who launched a war in Ukraine last year, has expressed concern earlier this month over civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip, calling on world leaders to “think about how to stop this tragedy.”
Abu Marzouk had recently visited Moscow alongside a delegation from Hamas for talks on foreign hostages in Gaza.
Hamas, the group ruling Gaza that is recognized as a terrorist organization by the US, EU and several other countries, has so far released 81 Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for 180 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.
Israel says 150 individuals taken captive by Hamas in a brutal October 7 attack remain hostage, among them a 10-month-old baby.
