Hamas to release 14 hostages for 42 Palestinian prisoners in second swap: Egyptian officials

Hamas is set to release 14 more hostages in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners in the second swap with Israel.

According to the Associated Press, Egyptian officials said Hamas will release a group of hostages Saturday, which follows Friday’s release of approximately two dozen hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas is expected to release a total of 50 hostages over four days as part of a temporary cease-fire deal in its war with Israel.

Hamas provided Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, which was then passed to Israel, The AP reported.

The hostages released Friday went through Egypt under protection from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) before going to hospitals in Israel to be treated for injuries.

A military spokesperson said none of the injuries were serious. They are now headed home under protection from Israeli soldiers.

Among the hostages released Friday were 13 Israelis and 12 Thai hostages.

Hamas has agreed to release 50 hostages that were taken captive during the brutal Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel. Israel has agreed to release 150 Palestinian prisoners over the four-day truce. Under the agreement, Hamas will release one hostage for every three prisoners freed from Israel.

Israel’s Prison Service said it was preparing 42 prisoners for release, The AP reported.

Qatar mediated the temporary truce, which was the result of negotiations between the U.S., Egypt, Hamas and Israel.

Israel and Hamas are expected to resume fighting once the four-day period is over, but the pause is expected to allow for temporary relief as well as deliveries of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

The hostages were taken by Hamas in its attack early last month, which killed at least 1,200 people. Israel, which has repeatedly struck the Gaza Strip as part of its retaliatory counteroffensive, agreed to implement a temporary cease-fire to allow for the hostages’ safe transfer and the delivery of humanitarian aid. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 12,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.