Obstacles causing a delay in today’s expected hostage and prisoner release “were overcome” through mediation, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson said.
“After a delay in implementing the release of prisoners from both sides, the obstacles were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian communications with both sides, and tonight 39 Palestinian civilians will be released in exchange for the release of 13 Israeli detainees from Gaza in addition to 7 foreigners outside the framework of the agreement,” the Qatari spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, said.
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The hostages set to be released from Gaza Saturday include eight Israeli children, five Israeli women and an additional seven people from other countries, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, said on the social media platform X. Further details about the foreign nationals were not immediately available.
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The Palestinian prisoners set for release include 33 teenagers and six women, according to a statement by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society and the Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs on Saturday.
The prisoners are mostly from the occupied West Bank, except for six from East Jerusalem, the statement added.
More to come…