Hamas Releases Video of Israeli Hostage Transfer to Red Cross

Hamas has released a video showing the transfer of Israeli hostages to the Red Cross. Among the 13 hostages released are four young children and their mothers, as well as five elderly women. They were part of approximately 240 individuals abducted by Hamas militants on October 7 in southern Israel.

According to a statement by Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, there are four German nationals among those released. As part of a separate agreement, 10 citizens of Thailand and one Filipino have also been freed.

The released hostages have undergone preliminary medical examinations in Israel and will be transferred to hospitals where they will reunite with their families. Further, it is expected that the remaining group, composed of at least 50 Israelis, will be released in the coming days. They are to be exchanged for Palestinians under a mediation agreement with Qatar. If the ceasefire is extended, other hostages may also be released.

On Friday, Israel also released 39 Palestinian women and teenagers who had previously been detained. These are the first Palestinians to be freed from Israeli prisons under this agreement, part of a group of 150 individuals.