Israeli Set To Release 39 Palestinian Hostages

According to a Palestinian official, Israel would free 39 Palestinian inmates from the occupied West Bank today, including 15 young boys and 24 women, in exchange for the release of 13 hostages who were supposed to be freed by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

At approximately 4 p.m. (1400 GMT/10 p.m. Malaysian time), the prisoners—all of whom are from the occupied West Bank or Jerusalem—will be turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross at Israel’s Ofer military jail, according to Qadura Fares, the Palestinian commissioner for prisoners.

That would align with the scheduled release of 13 women and children who were among the approximately 240 hostages held by Hamas terrorists during their fatal October 7th raid in southern Israel, at the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Fares told Reuters that “the Palestinian prisoners will go to Jerusalem after the Red Cross receives them, and the Palestinian prisoners from the West Bank will gather in Betunia municipal council where their families will be waiting.”

Although both sides were accused of violating the truce, which started at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and seemed to be holding shakily with no significant reports of bombs, artillery strikes, or rocket attacks, including the release of prisoners.