24 hostages released from Hamas captivity – 13 Israelis, plus 10 Thai citizens and 1 Filipino citizen

The first 13 Israeli hostages held by the terror organization Hamas, were transferred on Friday in Red Cross ambulances across the border from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.

The transfer from Hamas to the Red Cross reportedly took place in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. From there, the hostages were transported across the Rafah border crossing on the border between Gaza and Egypt.

The full list of the 13 Israelis as released by the government:

Asher family: Doron Katz-Asher (34), Raz Asher (4), Aviv Asher (2)

Aloni family: Danielle Aloni (45), Emilia Aloni (5)

Munder family: Ruth Munder (78), Keren Munder (54), Ohad Munder (9)

-Adina Moshe (72)

-Chana Katzir (76)

-Margalit Mozes (77)

-Chana Peri (79)

-Yaffa Adar (85)

The NPR news outlet released the first footage of the released hostages inside Egypt, with an elderly woman seen waving from a Red Cross Ambulance.

First look on a night of anticipatipn: ICRC vehicles carrying elderly and others across Rafah border crossing. Filmed by NPR producer in Gaza, Anas Baba. pic.twitter.com/4Njg33MaBS

— Daniel Estrin (@DanielEstrin) November 24, 2023

Following the transfer of the first batch of Israeli abductees, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will continue to push forward for the release of all the captives.

"We just completed the return of the first of our hostages; children, their mothers and additional women. Each of them is an entire world," Netanyahu said.

"But I emphasize to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel: We are committed to returning all the hostages. This is one of the aims of the war and we are committed to achieving all the aims of the war."

IDF Spokesperson:

In the past day, the IDF completed its preparation for the reception of the hostages who will return to Israel from the Gaza Strip.

The @IDF, in cooperation with the government ministries and security organizations, formulated a procedure for the rapid… pic.twitter.com/Mi5sjx1dtu

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) November 24, 2023

Meanwhile, Qatar, which has played an instrumental role in the hostage negotiations, announced that Israel had released 39 Palestinian security prisoners – women and minors – in the first batch of the hostages-for-prisoners deal with Hamas.

Out of the expected 150 Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israel as a part of the deal, the majority were administrative detainees who had yet to be charged with a crime. However, some had been convicted of being involved in attacks against Israeli civilians or security forces.

Israeli Prison Authority Chief, Lt.-Gen. Katy Perry said her organization would implement Israel’s part of the agreement.

"This is our mission for the return of hostages, and we will carry it out the best way we can," Perry stated. "We are facing long days and will be on high alert to fulfill our mission," she added.

In accordance with the temporary ceasefire agreement, Israel permitted some 90 trucks to cross the border into Gaza with humanitarian aid for Gazan civilians.

Today, the largest shipment of humanitarian aid since the beginning of the war is being delivered into the Gaza Strip. 200 trucks carrying water, food, medical supplies, and shelter equipment, as well as 4 trucks of fuel and 4 tanks of cooking gas, entered Gaza via Rafah crossing pic.twitter.com/bVyz5bFDkG

— COGAT (@cogatonline) November 24, 2023

In a separate agreement, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the release of 10 Thai hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists inside Israel on Oct. 7. Their release was not mediated by Iran and was carried out without Hamas demanding anything in return.

"At the moment, the embassy officials are traveling to pick them up in one hour. It's likely that the names and other details will be known. Please keep watching," the Thai prime minister wrote on 𝕏, formerly Twitter.

Hamas terror operatives murdered at least 30 Thai guest workers in Israel and abducted about 26 Thai citizens as hostages, meaning more than half of the Thai captives are still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

A Filipino citizen, Gelienor “Jimmy” Leano Pacheco (33), was also released. Pacheco, a father of 3, was working as a caregiver for an elderly Israeli civilian at Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the Israeli southern border communities hit hardest on the day of the Hamas massacre.

The hostages-for-prisoners agreement between Hamas and Israel is divided into several phases that are expected to take four days to complete. A total of 50 Israeli nationals are expected to be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Sky News recently accused Israel of racism when one of its reporters claimed that Israel somehow valued Palestinian lives less than Israeli lives, noting the disproportional 1-for-3 agreement.

A surprised Israeli Government Spokesperson Eylon Levy quickly rebuked the "disgusting accusation" of racism.

“Notice the question of proportionality doesn’t interest Palestinian supporters when they’re able to get more of their prisoners out. But really, it is outrageous to suggest that the fact that we are willing to release prisoners who are convicted of terrorism offenses, more of them than we are getting our own innocent children back, somehow suggests we don’t care about Palestinian lives. Really, that is a disgusting accusation,” Levy stated.