An image grab from a handout video released by the Hamas Media Office shows a member of its Al-Qassam Brigades gesturing to a hostage before handing her over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza on November 24, 2023. AFP
Rashwan affirmed that Egypt is engaging both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to secure the release of a larger number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and captives detained by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In addition, Rashwan disclosed that 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid bound for north Gaza crossed into the strip through the Rafah border crossing on Saturday.
On Friday, as per the truce agreement, Hamas released 13 Israeli captives who were received by Egypt through the International Red Cross (IRC).
On the other side, Israel released 39 Palestinian political prisoners, all women and children, from its jails.
Moreover, as per Egyptian mediation, Hamas also released 11 Asian workers - 10 Thai and one Philippine - who were also received by the IRC and handed to the the Egyptian authorities.
On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a truce agreement on a 4-day humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza through Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation.
The truce agreement involves a stop to all hostilities in Gaza and the entry of 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including water, food, medical supplies, and fuel, to 2.4 million Palestinians in the besieged strip.
The agreement stipulates the release of 50 Israeli captives, including women and children, in batches of 12 every day during the truce.
In return, 150 Palestinian political prisoners, including women and children, would be released from Israeli detention in batches of 39 every day during the truce.
The agreement also allows room for an extension and the release of more captives and prisoners.
On Friday, 200 aid trucks, carrying food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing to relieve 2.4 million Palestinians who had been under Israeli bombardment and blockade since 7 October.
Also on Friday, trucks carrying two field hospitals from Jordan and the UAE entered the strip.
Since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October, Egypt has delivered 2,468 tons of medicines and medical supplies, 8,440 tons of food, 658 tons of fuel, 6,345 tons of water, 18 ambulances, and additional relief materials totaling 1,885 tons to Palestinians in the strip.
Egypt has also received approximately 236 injured individuals accompanied by 273 others, along with 8,514 foreign nationals and 1,256 Egyptians.
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