Gaza: In the midst of a temporary truce with Israel, the military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has handed over a third batch of Israeli hostages to the Red Cross. The release occurred on the third day of the ceasefire agreement between the two parties, with a total of 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis and four Thais, crossing into Egypt en route to Israel. The exchange was part of a series of releases by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

This follows a previous release of hostages, which included a young woman abducted during the October 7 assault on Israel, marking the first release of hostages from the Supernova music festival attacked by Hamas. The latest batch included 21-year-old Maya Regev and nine-year-old Emily Hand, both among the hostages freed by Hamas.

The temporary truce and the hostage-for-prisoner swap have brought some relief to both sides, providing the first significant pause in the conflict since October 7. Despite the delicate nature of the exchanges and occasional disputes over the terms, the truce has allowed for the release of hostages and some respite in the ongoing conflict.

Egypt has expressed positive feedback from both parties regarding the possibility of extending the truce for additional days, facilitating more releases of hostages and prisoners. The fragile peace continues to be a subject of international attention, with calls for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the hostilities.