Israel, Hamas complete second prisoner-hostage swap

Thirty-nine Palestinian prisoners released from an Israeli prison as part of an ongoing prisoner-hostage swap agreement between Israel and Hamas have arrived in Jerusalem, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Sunday.

Thirteen Israeli and four Thai hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza have arrived in Israel, the Israeli military said on Saturday.

The 17 people are the second group of hostages to be sent back to Israel in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The exchange was scheduled to take place around 4 p.m. local time Saturday, but was delayed for several hours after Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet the terms in a four-day humanitarian ceasefire agreement, which was agreed upon by the two sides on Wednesday after more than six weeks of bloody conflict.

Hamas alleged that the aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised and that not enough of it was reaching northern Gaza – the focus of Israel's ground offensive and main combat zone. Hamas also said not enough veteran prisoners were freed in the first swap on Friday, according to the AP.

"This is putting the deal in danger," Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said in Beirut. But Egypt, Qatar and Hamas itself later said obstacles had been overcome, and Hamas listed six women and 33 teenage boys it said were expected to be released by the Israelis.

Under mediation by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel on Wednesday agreed to a four-day humanitarian ceasefire to force a temporary halt to the fighting between the two sides. After the truce deal went into effect Friday, Hamas released 24 hostages – 13 Israelis, 10 Thai and one Filipino – while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. The release of non-Israeli nationals was separate to the truce deal.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: An International Red Cross vehicle, reportedly carrying the first batch of hostages released by Hamas, crosses the Rafah border point in the Gaza Strip towards Egypt, November 24, 2023. /CFP)