Television footage showed vehicles with large red cross flags—believed to contain the second group of hostages freed by Hamas terrorists—driving across the Rafa border crossing between Egypt and Gaza Saturday. The vehicles reportedly contain 13 Israelis and four foreigners, including eight children and five women, although different numbers have also been reported. No Americans are expected to be released at this time.
They will immediately receive medical care.
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency medicine doctor, told Fox News Saturday that the hostages will be examined for signs of rape, torture, and other war crimes. They've also been underground for seven weeks, she said, and have presumably received no sunlight and could get sick if given too much water or food too quickly. They could also be vulnerable to blood clots since they've likely had limited ability to move around.
The hostage deal between Israel and Hamas has been on again, off again, as Hamas keeps changing the terms and accusing Israel of duplicity. Israel will turn over Hamas prisoners in exchange for the release:
The Associated Press confirmed the news on Saturday, the second day of the four-day cease-fire. No American hostages expected to be freed at this time.
The Israeli government will release 39 more Palestinian prisoners in exchange, including six women and 33 boys and teenagers.
Hamas had accused Israel of violating the conditions of their cease-fire deal, declaring that they would not release hostages taken from Israel unless aid trucks were permitted to enter northern Gaza. At least 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have been sent to the area since Friday.
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