JERUSALEM (AP) — The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sunday as the terror group freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and the first American, in a third set of releases under a four-day truce that the U.S. said it hoped would be extended.
Some hostages were handed over directly to Israel, while others left through Egypt. Israel's army said one was airlifted to a hospital. U.S. President Joe Biden said the elderly woman was “very sick and was in need of immediate medical help." Hundreds of Israelis draped in flags cheered and sang as freed hostages, waving, arrived at an air force base. They were being flown to hospitals.
The hostages ranged in age from 4 to 84 and included Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl and dual citizen whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack that started the war on Oct. 7. “What she endured was unthinkable,” Biden said of the first American freed under the truce. He did not know her condition. He did not have updates on other American hostages and said his goal was to extend the cease-fire deal as long as possible.
In all, nine children ages 17 and younger were on the list, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Separately, Hamas said it released a Russian hostage “in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin." The Russian-Israeli citizen was the first male hostage to be freed.
Israel’s prison service later said it had begun the process of releasing 39 Palestinian prisoners. A convoy of vehicles was seen leaving Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank.
A fourth exchange is expected on Monday — the last day of the cease-fire during which a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed. All are women and minors.
International mediators led by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar are trying to extend the cease-fire that began Friday.
Ahead of the latest release, Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip, where he spoke with troops. “We are making every effort to return our hostages, and at the end of the day we will return every one,” he said, adding that “we are continuing until the end, until victory. Nothing will stop us.” It was not immediately clear where he went inside Gaza.
