Jerusalem Washington – As a cease-fire took effect between Israel and Hamas in Gaza President Joe Biden on Friday took partial credit for the negotia
Jerusalem / Washington – As a cease-fire took effect between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, President Joe Biden on Friday took partial credit for the negotiated release of hostages by Hamas and the freeing of prisoners by Israel, saying it was the „result of extensive U.S. diplomacy.“
The president said he and his team have been working for weeks for a pause in the fighting, pressing for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and for the release of those abducted by Hamas in Israel on October 7.
The U.S. president thanked Qatar, Egypt and Israel for the deal that led to the release of some of those taken captive by Hamas.
„It’s only a start but, so far, it’s gone well,“ Biden said.
Released Palestinian prisoner Marah Bkeer greets a family member near her house after a hostages-prisoners swap between Hamas and Israel, in Jerusalem, Nov. 24, 2023.
Biden’s remarks, from Nantucket, Massachusetts, came hours after the planned four-day cease-fire began after seven weeks of war.
For Israelis, the Qatar-brokered halt in hostilities means some of the 240 hostages Israel says were abducted by Hamas in an unprecedented attack in Israel on October 7 are now returning home.
Twenty-four hostages, including 13 Israeli women and children, ranging in age from 2 to 85, were released Friday evening. Additionally, Hamas released 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino whom it also had taken hostage, according to the Qatari government.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government freed 39 Palestinian women and male juveniles who had been imprisoned or detained.
‚Teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday began carrying out a multiday operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian detainees to the West Bank. The operation will include the delivery of additional, much-needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza,‘ the ICRC said in a statement about the four-day cease-fire brokered by Qatar.
Released Palestinian prisoners react as they leave the Israeli military prison, Ofer, after a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Nov. 24, 2023.
After nightfall Friday, television images aired live on Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera TV showed a line of ambulances carrying the freed hostages from Gaza into Egypt through Rafah Crossing.
After their release, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ‚We have just completed the return of the first batch of our hostages. Children, their mothers and other women. Each and every one of them is a world in itself.
‚But I stress to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel: We are committed to returning all our hostages.‘
In Tel Aviv, crowds of Israelis celebrated the news, while in the West Bank town of Beituna, hundreds of Palestinians honked horns and lit fireworks to mark the release of the Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas confirmed on its Telegram channel that attacks from its forces would also pause. The group has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., U.K., EU and others.
Over the course of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas is to release at least 50 hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel said the four-day stop in fighting would be extended an extra day for every 10 additional hostages freed by Hamas.
