11 Hostages and 33 Prisoners Released Again, Hamas and Israel Agree to Extend Ceasefire by Two Days

Release of hostages by Hamas. (Source: Screenshot of X via The Times of Israel)

JAKARTA - The militant group Hamas and Israel reached an agreement to extend the ceasefire, when the release of hostages and detainees on both sides resumed.

Monday was the final day of a four-day ceasefire agreement agreed last week and starting on Friday.

Yesterday, the militant group Hamas freed 11 hostages, in exchange for the release of 33 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

"As the implementation of the fourth-day commitment of the humanitarian ceasefire agreement, 33 Palestinian civilians will be released today in exchange for the release of 11 Israeli prisoners from Gaza," tweeted Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari in X, as quoted on November 28.

He further said that the freed hostages included those with dual citizenship of France, Germany, and Argentina.

"The Israeli citizens released from Gaza include three French citizens, two German citizens, and six Argentinian citizens," he wrote.

He added that the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel were three women and 30 minors.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that 11 hostages freed from being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are now in Israeli territory, and are being guarded by special forces and members of the Shin Bet security agency.

"After they undergo an initial medical examination regarding their health, our troops will accompany them until they are reunited with their families," said the IDF, reported by The Times of Israel.

The IDF asked the public to "show patience and sensitivity during this time out of respect for the freed hostages and their families."

In a tweet on Monday, al-Ansari also wrote that both Hamas and Israel agreed to extend the ceasefire for the next two days.

"Agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian pause for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip," al-Ansari said.

Hamas said it had agreed to a two-day extension. Meanwhile, there was no immediate comment from Israel, but a White House official confirmed that an agreement had been reached, quoted by Reuters.

Since the deal began to be implemented on Friday, Hamas has released 69 hostages. Meanwhile, with the immediate release, the number of prisoners released will be 150 people.