A smooth handover
This handover was different from previous ones made by both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
One of the previous handovers was criticised for the intense atmosphere, in particular the one that was held close to the house of Yahya Sinwar in Khan Younis. The Palestinian factions have selected this location again to try to show they are coordinated and hold control over a well-organised handover.
The three captives released today appeared to be in good physical condition. This is in contrast to last week’s group of released captives, who were in a more deteriorated health condition due to shortages of food and medicine as a result of Israeli blocks.
Overall, this has been one of the smoother handovers carried out so far since the start of the Gaza ceasefire.
American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen speaks on the stage in Khan Younis as he stands with Palestinian fighters
Joy, tears in Israel after release of captives
Alexander Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Yair Horn have now crossed into Israeli territory, according to Israel’s army.
Meanwhile, these were the scenes earlier in Israel when television footage showed the release in Khan Younis:
Each freed captive ‘brings back our breath and soul’: Lapid
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has called on the government to bring the captives held in Gaza back “as soon as possible”. He said on X: “Yair, Sagui, and Sasha are on their way home. Each one who returns brings back our breath and our soul.”
The Israeli army said earlier that Yair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha Alexander Trufanov had crossed into Israel after their release in Gaza.
Families of remaining Israeli captives to fast for 500 minutes to call for action
The forum created by the families of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip has announced it will hold events on Monday to mark 500 days of their captivity and call for action.
Families and their supporters will fast for 500 minutes starting from about noon, and then hold another rally at the so-called Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, according to a statement published by Israeli media.
The families said the fasting will be a form of solidarity with the difficult conditions experienced by the captives in Gaza, and emphasised they wish to see all of them returned to Israel.
8.3 hours of fasting, that's Ramadan every day...
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