Hamas and Israel have completed their third exchange of hostages for prisoners, this time releasing 17 as they have slowly been releasing new hostages and negotiating exchanges over the past several weeks.
The latest release of hostages includes a 4 year old girl named Avigail Idan, being the first American freed. Following the conclusion of the current four-day cease-fire, Hamas announced on Sunday that it would attempt to extend the 4-day truce with Israel. According to Israeli officials, it is the longest break of hostilities in Gaza since October 7th, when gunmen from Hamas and other militant groups carried out a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people.
Although Hamas, the Palestinian organization in charge of Gaza, had not previously publicly responded to the offer, Israel has stated that it is willing to grant an additional day’s pause for every 10 hostages that Hamas releases beyond the 50 stipulated in the agreement.
The Israeli prime minister’s office announced that 14 Israelis, including nine children, and three foreigners had been released on the third day of the agreement, which called for the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Hours later, Hamas released a statement.
Avigail Idan, the 4-year old American hostage:
Avigail has a dual citizenship in the U.S. and Israel. She recently turned 4 just this Friday. She was the first American hostage freed and was just one of the estimated 240 people taken to Gaza as hostages by Hamas. Members of her family were relieved to finally se her again however, sadly reported that both of her parents had been fatally shot at the Kfar Aza kibbutz but luckily her two siblings ages 9 and 6 survived the violence.