Israel-Hamas war: 10 Israeli hostages has been released in sixth swap

A group of 10 Israeli women and children plus four Thai nationals were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas late Wednesday night.

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Update 9:43 p.m. EST Nov. 29: Israel released additional Palestinian prisoners, according to The Associated Press.

Ahed Tamimi, 22, was one of those released. Tamimi was seen in a video in 2017 slapping an Israeli soldier. According to the AP, the video went viral. She was arrested at her house in the West Bank on Nov. 6 for “inciting terrorism” on her Instagram account. Her mother claimed her account was hacked.

Update 5:57 p.m. EST Nov. 29: The Prime Minister of Israel released the names of 10 Israeli hostages on X, formerly known as Twitter.

• Gal Tarshansky,13
• Amit Shani, 15
• Liam Or, 18
• Itay Regev Jerbi, 18
• Ofir Engel, 17
• Yarden Roman-Gat, 35
• Moran Stela Yanai, 40
• Liat Binin Atzili, 49
• Ra’aya Rotem, 54
• Raz Ben-Ami, 56

The two other citizens released Wednesday have been identified as Yelena Trupanov, 50, and Irena Tati, 73.

The Prime Minister of Israel also confirmed that the hostages have returned to Israeli territory today.

President Biden confirmed that an American citizen who was held captive by Hamas, Liat Beinin, was released Wednesday, according to CNN.

“I’ve got some very good news to report. Liat Benin is safe in Egypt, she’s crossed the border. I’ve talked with her mother and father. They’re very appreciative. And things are moving well. She’ll soon be home with her three children,” Biden told reporters before boarding Air Force One, according to CNN.

“Today, 16 more people have been returned to their families after being held hostage by Hamas for more than 50 days. Among them, is Liat Beinin—a high school teacher, a guide at Israel’s Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem, and an American. Jill and I are deeply gratified that she will soon be reunited with her three children and her father, who have been wracked with worry for her safety. And we remain determined to secure the release of every person taken hostage by Hamas during its brutal terrorist assault on Israel on October 7, including Liat’s husband Aviv,” Biden said in a statement from the White House.

Update 5:21 p.m. EST Nov. 29: Spokesperson Dr. Majed Al-Ansari for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 30 Palestinians are being released Wednesday, according to CNN. Those include 16 minors and 14 women.

Qatar said that the 10 Israeli citizens being released Wednesday include five dual citizens including a Dutch dual citizen, three German dual citizens and an American dual citizen, CNN reported.

“Qatar remains hopeful that the progress made in recent days can be sustained, and a further extension to the humanitarian pause agreement can be reached,” Al-Ansari said, according to CNN.

Original story: The release of the hostages by Hamas is expected to be followed by Israel releasing 30 Palestinian prisoners, according to The Associated Press.

Mediators are working to extend the cease-fire that is expected to expire in a few hours, according to the AP. Israel has reportedly agreed to extend the truce by a day for every 10 hostages who are released. The cease-fire was originally supposed to end on Monday.

The Israel Defense Forces said that the hostages are still in Gaza and are on their way to an Israeli territory, CNN reported.

Sources say, according to CNN, that an Israeli-American held hostage in Gaza is now with the Red Cross. Her name is Liat Beinin. She would be the second successful release of an American hostage since the start of a truce between both Israel and Hamas. The other was Abigail Edan, 4.

Two Russian-Israeli women were released earlier in the day Wednesday and are back in Israel, the AP reported. They were held captive by Hamas.

The New York Times reported that as of Wednesday, 100 hostages have been freed from Gaza but 140 still remain in captivity. Many of those hostages are believed to be soldiers or men who are young enough to be called for military service which Hamas officials have said “it will demand a higher price for releasing people in those categories.”