Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, announced the release on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “It has been confirmed by the Security Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there are 12 Thai hostages already released.”
At least 50 women and children held captive in the Gaza Strip are expected to be released over the next four days, in return for a pause in fighting and the release of 150 Palestinian women and minors imprisoned in Israeli jails.
Qatari officials said 39 Palestinians – three for every freed hostage – were expected to be released from jails on day one, but only after the first 13 hostages were returned to Israel.
In a statement on Friday the IDF said it had coordinated with government ministries and security authorities, “to quickly receive the released hostages and give them all the necessary support.”
Terms of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire
- All fighting in Gaza halts for four days.
- Hamas will release 50 women and children held as hostages.
- In exchange, Israel will release 150 Palestinian women and children from jail.
- The truce deal will allow hundreds of trucks of humanitarian, medical and fuel aid to enter Gaza.
- Israel to extend truce by an extra day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas.
“As part of the preparations, the IDF has readied several locations dedicated to the initial reception of the released hostages, including with necessary medical provisions and support.”
The Israeli Health Ministry this week announced that it was ready to receive the hostages who will be released from captivity, giving assurances that mothers and children would not be separated on arrival.
Preparing for the hostage release, Israel’s Welfare Ministry gave guidelines to the military personnel escorting them, including advice not to hold the hands of children or hug them unless they agree.
“If the children [without parents] ask questions like, ‘Where is Mum?’ or ‘Where is Dad?’ soldiers should not answer these questions, even if they know the answers,” the ministry guidelines said.
The 13 women and children to be released on Friday represent a small fraction of the estimated 240 hostages abducted by Hamas terrorists during their bloody invasion of Israel on October 7.