By Awad Al Rajoub
RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Israel released 30 Palestinians on Tuesday in the latest exchange deal with the Hamas group.
A Red Cross bus left Israel’s Ofer military prison in the town of Beitonia near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank carrying the 15 women and 15 children, an Anadolu correspondent reported.
Earlier in the day, Hamas published the names of Palestinian prisoners set to be released as part of the exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian group.
The list included the names of 15 children (12 from Jerusalem and three from the West Bank) and 15 women (five from Jerusalem and 10 from the West Bank).
The Israeli army reported earlier Tuesday on the arrival of 12 hostages from the Gaza Strip, including 10 Israelis and two Thais.
This list constitutes the fifth batch of Palestinian prisoners being released from Israeli prisons under a humanitarian pause in fighting between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend the initial four-day pause for an additional two days, under which further prisoner exchanges will be carried out.
Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.
It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.
The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.
*Writing by Ziad Aslan