Hamas releases all 20 living hostages

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Hamas released all 20 remaining hostages it held during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, a milestone in efforts to end the two-year-old war that comes ahead of the planned release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli army said on Monday that Hamas had released the last 13 hostages alive after handing over seven others earlier in the day to the Red Cross at a site in Gaza.

He added: “According to the information provided by the Red Cross, 13 hostages were transferred to their custody and are on their way to the (Israeli military and security) forces in the region.” Gaza sector,” the army said.

In exchange for the move – which is scheduled to be followed by the return of the bodies of 28 other hostages who died – Israel is set to release more than 1,900 Palestinians, including 250 serving life sentences and another 1,700 Gazans who have been kidnapped and held without charge by Israel since October 7.

This is a developing story