US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, on the night of Wednesday November 29 to Thursday, where he is expected to speak with Israeli leaders about the truce with Hamas and the continuation of the humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. This is the third visit to the Middle East by the American Secretary of State since the start of the war on October 7, launched by the bloody attack by Hamas on Israeli soil, leaving more than 1,200 dead, mostly civilians. This live is now over.
Ten Israeli hostages and four Thais released by Hamas. The fourteen hostages, held since October 7 by Hamas, have been released, the Israeli army announced on Telegram, the Israeli army, on the basis of information provided by the Red Cross. Among the Israeli hostages, five are dual nationals: a Dutchman, three Germans, an American. The ten Israeli hostages were released as part of the humanitarian pause agreement. Thirty Palestinians, including 16 minors and 14 women, will be released by Israel in exchange for their release.
Hamas says it wants to free all Israeli soldiers in exchange for all imprisoned Palestinians. A senior Hamas official announced on Wednesday, November 29, that the Palestinian Islamist movement was ready to release all the Israeli soldiers it detains in exchange for all the Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. “We are ready to release all the soldiers in exchange for all our prisoners”Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official and former health minister in Gaza, said at a press conference in the South African city of Cape Town.
Two Israeli hostages released. The Israeli army announced early Wednesday evening, November 29, on Telegram that two Israeli hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross. They arrived around 8 p.m. (French time) in Israeli territory, via Egypt, and will now reunite with their families and be taken care of for medical examinations. Israeli authorities, who gave the names of Irena Tetti and her daughter Lena Trupanov, according to Israeli media Haaretzhave not yet confirmed whether these were indeed the two Russian women (and therefore possibly binational) whose release Hamas announced earlier today.
The UN secretary general calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. “The people of Gaza are living in the midst of a monumental humanitarian catastrophe, before the eyes of the world. We must not look away,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday. “We think we need a real humanitarian ceasefire”, he demanded again. Negotiations are underway to try to extend the six-day truce which is due to end Thursday morning.