2023-11-24 18:34:00
(CNN) — A first group of hostages was freed by Hamas and returned safely to Israel this Friday, ending the first stage of a historic agreement painstakingly negotiated between the warring parties with the help of foreign mediation.
The civilians include 13 Israeli women and children who had been captured by Hamas during its brutal cross-border attacks on October 7 and held in besieged Gaza for 48 days amid worsening humanitarian conditions.
After clearing the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, the hostages were transferred from the Red Cross to Egyptian officials before being transported home to Israel by helicopter. Once there, they were transferred to locations prepared by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with medical supplies and support for their initial reception.
According to information provided by the Prime Minister’s Office and a spokesman for Kibbutz Nir Oz, the 13 released Israelis are: Yafa Adar, 85 years old; Ohad Munder, 9 years old; Keren Munder, 54 years old; Ruth Munder, 78 years old; Margalit Moisés, 77 years old; Adina Moshe, 72 years old; Daniel Aloni, 45; Emilia Aloni, 5; Aviv Asher, 2; Raz Asher, 4; Doron Katz Asher, 34 years old; Hana Katzir, 76 years old; and Channa Peri, 79 years old.
Twelve of the 13 are from Kibbutz Nir Oz, the spokesman said in a statement. Some 77 people from that community were kidnapped on October 7.
The 13th hostage, Channa Peri, is from Kibbutz Nirim, CNN previously reported.
Daniel Aloni was one of three women who appeared in a hostage video released by Hamas late last month.
Among the 24 hostages released this Friday were also 10 Thai citizens and 1 Filipino citizen, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in X.
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