Israel’s prison service said 39 Palestinian detainees were released on Sunday under the terms of a truce agreement, while Hamas hand over 17 prisoners on the third day of a truce with Israel. Hamas said on Sunday it had handed over 13 Israeli hostages, three Thai nationals and a person with Russian citizenship who had been held in the Gaza Strip to the Red Cross on the third day of a truce between Israel and the Hamas. Killing of a Palestinian farmer in the central Gaza Strip had earlier added to concerns over the fragility of the truce. The farmer was killed when targeted by Israeli forces east of Gaza’s long-established Maghazi refugee camp, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Thirteen Israelis and four Thai nationals arrived in Israel early on Sunday after a second release of hostages held by Hamas following an initial delay caused by a dispute about aid delivery into Gaza. Egypt and Qatar acted as mediators on Saturday to maintain the truce. The armed wing of Hamas also said on Sunday that four of its military commanders in the Gaza Strip had been martyred, including the commander of the North Gaza brigade, Ahmad Al Ghandour. It did not say when they had been martyred. Qatar, Egypt and the United States are pressing for the truce to be extended beyond Monday but it is not clear whether that will happen.
39 more Palestinians reunited with loved ones
