The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Saturday night that a group of 17 more hostages taken by Hamas were being released and on their way out of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas officials reportedly gave up 13 Israelis and 4 non-Israelis to the Red Cross.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the captives were en route to the Rafah Border Crossing.
Among the hostages freed Saturday was Emily Hand, who celebrated her ninth birthday Friday night, as well as siblings Noam Or, 17, and Alma Or, 13 along with their father, Dror.
“Their mother Yonat was murdered and their older brother Yahli survived the inferno as he was at his post in northern Israel where he is doing a year of national service,” Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum reported.
It is expected that at least 50 hostages will be freed from Gaza and 150 Palestinians from Israel by the end of the four-day temporary cease-fire deal, which began Friday.
