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Egypt announces possibility of Hamas releasing some hostages soon

According to VNA November 13, 2023 08:21

According to a reporter in Cairo, Al Arabiya TV channel reported on November 12 that Egypt has informed Israel that the Hamas Islamic Movement plans to release a number of hostages in the coming days.

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Two Israeli hostages are taken to a medical center in Tel Aviv for a health check-up after being released by Hamas, October 24, 2023. File photo

Meanwhile, Al Hadath TV reported that a deal had been reached to exchange Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli prisons for 100 women and children held hostage by the Hamas Islamist movement. Israel had previously refused to declare any ceasefire or provide fuel to the Gaza Strip until Hamas released the first group of hostages.

Earlier in the day, Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed Palestinian official as saying that Hamas had suspended negotiations on the release of hostages after Israel attacked Al-Shifa Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. However, Xinhua news agency quoted two Hamas officials denying the information. Accordingly, Mr. Zaher Jabarin in charge of prisoner issues said that the movement is ready to sign an agreement on the issue of hostages in Gaza if there are suitable security conditions and the situation on the ground.

In recent days, Hamas forces and the Israeli army have been fighting fiercely around the Al-Shifa hospital area, paralyzing the operations of the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip due to a lack of fuel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had offered to provide fuel to the hospital but Hamas refused to accept it. This information was later denied by the Hamas movement.

The Israeli army has tightened the siege around the hospital, claiming that Hamas has a command center there. However, Hamas claims it has no involvement in the management of Al-Shifa Hospital and is not part of the decision-making structure of the medical facility. In addition, Hamas asserts that Al-Shifa Hospital is completely under the authority of the Palestinian Ministry of Health. According to information from Hamas, there are a total of 45 newborns at the hospital, two of whom have died after the hospital was forced to stop operating since November 11 due to fuel shortage.

In a statement on November 12, the Israeli military said it had opened a route and secured it for people to evacuate, on foot or in ambulances, from Al-Shifa, Rantisi and Naser hospitals. It also said it was ready to evacuate children from Al-Shifa hospital.

According to VNA
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Egypt announces possibility of Hamas releasing some hostages soon