MOSCOW, Nov 26 A US citizen for the first time since the start of the truce between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas are on the list of hostages who are expected to be released on Sunday, CNN reported, citing an Israeli official.
«For the first time since the temporary truce between Hamas and Israel came into force, hostages are included in the list of hostages subject to an American citizen is expected to be released on Sunday,» the channel said, citing an Israeli official.
In October, Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades (the movement's military wing), reported that Hamas had released two captive US citizens. «humanitarian reasons».
Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar, reached the first large-scale agreement since the conflict escalated on October 7: the parties agreed to cease hostilities for four days to exchange dozens of hostages and detainees held by each other. On Friday at 7.00 local time (8.00 Moscow time) a four-day truce began between the Israeli army and the Palestinian Hamas movement ruling in the Gaza Strip. As part of the first stage, a group of 24 hostages was handed over to the Israeli authorities. Israel, in turn, released 39 Palestinian prisoners, including 24 women. On Sunday night, the Palestinian movement Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and Israel held a second exchange of hostages and prisoners.
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters entered the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to the latest government data, about 1.2 thousand people were killed, this number includes civilians, soldiers, foreign citizens and workers, and it was also reported that more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
At the end of October, the ground phase of the Israeli operation in the enclave began. Gaza City was surrounded by Israeli ground forces, and the enclave was effectively divided into southern and northern parts.
The death toll in the Gaza Strip since the start of Israeli strikes has exceeded 14.8 thousand people, and more than 36 thousand have been injured. The Russian Embassy reported that during the escalation of the conflict, 20 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven were listed as missing. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible exclusively on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict related to territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and fighting in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.