17 more hostages handed over to Israel, Hamas ready to extend ceasefire

The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday released a second group of Israeli and foreign civilians it had held hostage in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, after an unexpected delay of several hours.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum released the names and ages of all thirteen Israeli hostages who were released on the second day of the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire. This time, most of the released hostages are children:

Shoshan Haran, 67 m.
Shiri Veisas, 53 m.
Sharon Avigdoris, 52 years old.
Adi Shoham, 38 m.
Maya Regev, 21 m.
Noga Weiss, 18
Noam Or, 17 m.
Alma Or, 13 m.
Hila Rotem, 13 m.
Noam Avigdori, 12 m.
Emily Hand, 9 m.
Naveh Shoham, 8 m.
Yahel Shoham, 3

Reuters/Scanpix Photo/Hamas Returned Hostages: Hila Rotem-Shoshani

Noam and Alma Or’s father, Dror Or, is still being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli officials. October 7 the children’s mother and Droror’s wife Yonat Or was killed.

Hila Rotem’s mother, Raaya Rotem, is also still being held in Gaza.

Israel said Hamas released a total of 17 hostages on Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces said the four individuals, not listed above, are Thai nationals.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin published the names of the released hostages on his social network:

Natthaporn Onkaew
Chombua Concrete
Anucha Angkaew
Houses Jirachart

This post has been updated with additional information from the Prime Minister of Thailand.

The handover came hours later than expected after the militant group accused Israel of violating the swap deal. Israeli officials denied the claims.

The unexpected delay has caused a lot of stress for the hostages’ relatives as Qatari and Egyptian mediators try to resolve the Islamist group’s fears that Israel is interfering in the selection of prisoners to be released and preventing aid from reaching civilians in the northern Gaza Strip during a four-day truce.

Hamas said it responded positively to the actions of Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who conveyed Israel’s promise to abide by all the terms of the agreement.