International-News

Hamas confirms: among the 33 hostages to be released and still alive are 26, 8 are dead

Seven prisoners released so far: 18 more live hostages will be released in the coming weeks

Hamas has announced that 26 of the 33 hostages scheduled for release in the first phase of the agreement with Israel are still alive. So far, seven hostages, all women, have already returned to freedom: Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. This leaves 18 people alive to be released in the coming exchanges.

The Israeli government confirmed the news, stating that eight hostages were declared dead. The families of the prisoners have been informed, said David Mencer, Israeli spokesman.

Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Palestinians began to return to their homes in the north of the Gaza Strip, taking advantage of the new arrangements between Israel and Hamas. Over 200,000 people crossed the checkpoints in the first hours of the reopening.

Hamas calls the return of the displaced people ‘a victory for the Palestinian people against the attempts at displacement’, while tensions remain high over the future of the region.

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