Israel-Gaza war live updates: Second group of hostages released after delay

Israel-Gaza war live updates: Second group of hostages released after delay

Thirteen Israelis and four Thai nationals held hostage in Gaza since Oct. 7 were released on the second day of the pause in fighting, in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners. The release of hostages was delayed by seven hours after allegations from Hamas, including that Israel was not allowing humanitarian raid to reach parts of northern Gaza. Qatari and Egyptian diplomats held emergency talks with both sides to salvage the deal, and U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the logjam was broken after President Biden spoke with Qatar’s emir and foreign minister. Israeli military leaders on Saturday said they would resume attacks inside the Gaza Strip after the break in combat. “The time frame for the pause is short,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on a visit to troops in Gaza, adding that further negotiations will be held “under fire.”

Here’s what to know:

• The list of hostages to be released Sunday has been received by Israel, the prime minister’s office said. On Friday, Hamas released 13 Israelis and Israel released 39 Palestinians. Hamas separately released 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino that day.
• The pause will be extended by a day for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas beyond the 50 agreed upon in the deal, Israel has said. Under the agreement, Israel is expected to release three Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli hostage taken on Oct. 7.
• The Palestine Red Crescent Society said Saturday that it had dispatched the largest aid convoy to the north of Gaza since the war began, but it and other aid groups said they were unable to enter parts of the region because Israel had declared them military areas.
• More than 13,300 people have been killed in Gaza and 35,180 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. At least 1,200 people were killed in Israel in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

2:31 AM: Israel signals no extension of four-day pause in fighting

Israeli military leaders on Saturday said they were committed to resuming attacks inside the Gaza Strip after the temporary break in combat, brushing aside entreaties from humanitarian agencies and some allies to extend the four-day pause in the hopes of releasing more hostages and shifting the war’s dynamics.

“The time frame for the pause is short,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to troops in Gaza. “Any further negotiations will be held under fire.”

The agreement between Israel and Hamas stipulates a four-day cessation of hostilities, during which ramped up humanitarian aid would enter the enclave and at least 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners would be freed. The terms allow for an extension of the pause by one day for every 10 Israelis that Hamas turns over.

Diplomats are pressing Israel to consider delaying its resumption of attacks. An Egyptian official said Saturday that the country had “positive indicators from all parties” in talks about extending the pause for another day or two. But Israeli officials, publicly at least, pressed the opposite message.

“We will return immediately at the end of the cease-fire to attacking Gaza, to maneuver in Gaza,” Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Saturday. “We will do it to dismantle Hamas and also to create great pressure to return as quickly as possible and as many hostages as possible.”

By: Steve Hendrix

1:55 AM: 13 Israeli and 4 Thai hostages transferred to Israeli military

Representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross have finished transferring a total of 17 hostages to Israeli Special Operations forces, the Israeli military said on social media late Saturday.

The hostages included 13 Israelis and 4 Thai nationals, according to the Israeli military, which said “they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families.”

Under the agreement, dozens of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons were set to be released in exchange for 13 Israelis held by Hamas, along with seven foreigners, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said earlier Saturday.

It was not immediately clear why only four Thai nationals were reported to have been turned over to Israeli forces, though the expected number of Thai hostages released also fluctuated on Friday.

By: Kyle Rempfer

1:55 AM: Hamas delay in releasing Israelis underscores fragility of Gaza deal

People in Tel Aviv await news of hostages expected to be released.

JERUSALEM — Hamas released a second group of Israeli hostages late Saturday, capping a nerve-racking day of delays and complications that underscored the fragility of the deal for a pause in fighting in Gaza, the exchange of captives and the delivery of more aid to the beleaguered enclave.

The pause held for a second day, but a challenge by Hamas to Israel’s implementation of the agreement delayed the planned release of Israeli hostages by seven hours, as Qatari and Egyptian diplomats held emergency talks with both sides to salvage the deal.

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By: Steve Hendrix, Claire Parker, Susannah George and Liz Sly