Hamas handed over seven more hostages to the IDF

The radical Palestinian movement Hamas handed over seven hostages to the IDF (IDF) and the General Security Service (Shin Bet, Shabak). The IDF and Shabak said in a joint statement on January 30.

"The seven returned hostages are currently being escorted by special units of the Israel Defense Forces and Shabak forces to return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical examination," the statement, published on the IDF's Telegram channel, said.

It added that Israeli army commanders and soldiers greeted the returning hostages on their way home. The IDF press office called for respecting the privacy of those returned from Hamas captivity.

N12 TV channel specified that the released Israeli hostages were 29-year-old Arbel Yehud and 80-year-old Gadi Moses, as well as five Thai nationals.

Vague alternatives: in Palestine, a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza has been drawn up

However, Israel is blocking attempts by the NPA authorities to return to the exclave

Earlier in the day, one hostage was handed over to the Israeli military. According to the N12 TV channel, it was 19-year-old IDF soldier Agam Berger.

Prior to that, on January 19, the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect. During this phase of the deal, which will last 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages and some 1,900 Palestinians are to be released. On the same day, the movement released three hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, and on January 26, four military girls were handed over to the Red Cross.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.