Hamas freed one other group of eight Israeli hostages on Thursday, together with twin nationals from Mexico, Russia and Uruguay.
Hours later, the Israeli Jail Service introduced the discharge of 30 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
It was the seventh consecutive day of releases of Israeli hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli prisons beneath the truce, which had been renewed early Thursday morning minutes earlier than it was set to run out. That extension was set to final simply 24 hours, and diplomats expressed some pessimism concerning the prospects for an additional extension to be agreed upon earlier than the present association expires on Friday.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the Israeli hostages launched on Thursday.
Mia Schem, 21
Mia Schem, 21, a twin Israeli-French citizen, was kidnapped from the location of the Tribe of Nova music competition the place at the very least 260 people were killed within the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7.
She was shown in a video launched by Hamas on Oct. 16, the primary photographs launched by the group of any of the roughly 240 hostages. Within the video, she stated that she had undergone surgical procedure on her arm after being kidnapped, although the explanation was unclear. (In keeping with an evaluation by The New York Instances, metadata contained throughout the video file signifies that among the footage was filmed at the very least six days earlier than it was launched.)
Amit Soussana, 40
Amit Soussana, 40, a lawyer, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza just a few miles east of Gaza. On the time, she had been at dwelling with a fever, in line with The Instances of Israel. Her household advised Israeli information organizations that throughout the Oct. 7 assault, Ms. Soussana hid in a protected room in her home, however the attackers have been nonetheless capable of attain her.
She and her household are left-leaning politically and had known as for peaceable coexistence with Palestinians. Her sister, Shira Soussana, stated that the kidnapping has shaken the household’s sense of safety. “We don’t have a belief anymore in people, it’s so evil,” she said, including, “on both sides.”
Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30
Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30, is an immigrant from Mexico, in line with the Hostages and Lacking Individuals Households Discussion board. Ms. Gritzewsky Kimchi was kidnapped on Oct. 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz, the place scores of residents have been murdered by Hamas.
Nili Margalit, 41
Nili Margalit, 41, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. On the morning of the assault, she texted associates to say that she was locked in a protected room together with her canine and that for hours she had been listening to attackers strolling round exterior, in line with The Instances of Israel.
Ms. Margalit works as a nurse in southern Israel on the Soroka Medical Middle, the Rambam Well being Care Campus stated on Fb. One other former hostage, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, advised The Instances of Israel that she had seen Ms. Margalit caring for different individuals whereas they have been being held captive.
Sapir Cohen, 29
Sapir Cohen, 29, was taken hostage alongside together with her boyfriend, Sasha Trupanob, 28, from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, the place they have been visiting his household.
Mr. Trupanob’s mom, Yelena Trupanob, and grandmother, Irena Tati, each Russian émigrés, have been additionally taken hostage however have been launched on Wednesday.
Mr. Trupanob is believed to stay in Gaza.
