Israel-Gaza updates: More hostages released, including 4-year-old American girl

Fourteen Israeli and three foreign hostages were released Sunday, the IDF said.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: November 26, 2023, 4:32 PM EST

Thousands of people have died and thousands more have been injured since the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign and total siege of the neighboring Gaza Strip, leaving the region on the verge of all-out war.

Click here for updates from previous days.

Mar 1, 6:03 am

What we know about the conflict

The latest outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, has passed the four-month mark.

In the Gaza Strip, at least 30,228 people have been killed and 71,377 others have been wounded by Israeli forces since Oct. 7, according to Gaza's Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.

In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 6,900 others have been injured by Hamas and other Palestinian militants since Oct. 7, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

There has also been a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have killed at least 395 people in the territory since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The ongoing war began after Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented incursion into southern Israel from neighboring Gaza via land, sea and air. Scores of people were killed while more than 200 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli military subsequently launched retaliatory airstrikes followed by a ground invasion of Gaza, a 140-square-mile territory where more than 2 million Palestinians have lived under a blockade imposed by Israel and supported by Egypt since Hamas came to power in 2007. Gaza, unlike Israel, has no air raid sirens or bomb shelters.

Nov 25, 2023, 1:13 PM EST

Hamas delays release of hostages over alleged 'violations' of cease-fire agreement

Hamas announced that it will be delaying the release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of violating the cease-fire agreement regarding aid trucks and the agreed-upon terms for the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

The Al-Qassam Brigades -- the armed wing of Hamas -- said it had decided to delay Saturday's scheduled second round of hostage releases until Israel committed to allowing aid trucks to enter northern Gaza. Hamas was expected to release 13 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 39 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel on Saturday, sources told ABC News.

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid wait to cross from the southern Gaza Strip into the northern Gaza Strip along Salah Al Din road in the central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 25, 2023.
Mohammed Saber/EPA via Shutterstock

"The Al-Qassam Brigades decides to delay the release of the second batch of hostages until the occupation adheres to the terms of the agreement regarding the entry of relief trucks into the northern Gaza Strip, and due to its failure to adhere to the agreed-upon criteria for releasing prisoners," Al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan, who is based in Lebanon, said relief trucks that arrived in northern Gaza today were half of the number that was agreed upon.

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid wait to cross from the southern Gaza Strip into the northern Gaza Strip along Salah Al Din road in the central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 25, 2023.
Mohammed Saber/EPA via Shutterstock

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid cross from the southern Gaza Strip into the northern Gaza Strip along Salah Al Din road in the central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 25, 2023.
Mohammed Saber/EPA via Shutterstock

"There are violations committed by the Israelis in implementing the terms of the truce, some of which occurred yesterday and were repeated today," Hamdan said Saturday, adding that another issue at stake was the reported shooting of two Palestinians on Friday as they tried to reach northern Gaza.

A senior Israeli political source told ABC News that Israel did not violate the agreement. The IDF said about 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid are expected to enter Gaza today, after 200 trucks with aid entered Gaza yesterday via the Rafah crossing and delivered their cargo to international aid organizations.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said 61 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies headed to northern Gaza on Saturday, the largest aid convoy to reach the area since the start of the war.

-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy, Nasser Atta, Jordana Miller

Nov 25, 2023, 10:25 AM EST

Americans held among hostages not expected to be released Saturday, US official says

American citizens are not expected to be among the hostages released Saturday, according to a U.S. official. No Americans were released Friday in the first group.

A senior administration official said they are still "hopeful" that three Americans will be released in this four day pause.

"The president secured the release of two American citizens as the pilot to this larger release of hostages. We are early in the process that will see at least 50 women and children released during the first phase of the agreement. We are hopeful that will include three dual national women and children, who are American citizens. This will unfold over the coming days. We will not comment on individual cases as the process is underway," the official said

A mother and daughter from Illinois, Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released last month after almost two weeks in captivity.

On Friday, President Joe Biden said it’s his "hope and expectation" that Americans will be released soon. But the president said he doesn’t know the condition of all the American hostages.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez and Selina Wang

Nov 25, 2023, 7:13 AM EST

13 Israeli hostages, 39 Palestinians expected to be released Saturday

Hamas is expected to release 13 Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel freeing 39 Palestinian prisoners Saturday as part of an ongoing swap during a four-day cease-fire, sources told ABC News.

Egyptian officials have released the same numbers, saying Egypt has received a list of 13 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and 39 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel planned to be released Saturday.

Egypt is currently holding intensive talks with the Palestinian and Israeli sides to "secure the release of a larger number" of captives in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners, the head of the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan said.

Earlier, the Israel Prison Service said that it received a list of 42 Palestinian prisoners to be released today -- as part of the agreement between Israel and the Hamas terror group, three prisoners are to be freed for each Israeli let go. Israel said Friday it received the list of abductees who are to be released today following the schedule.

It was not immediately clear if any non-Israeli captives may also be released Saturday.

Nov 24, 2023, 4:53 PM EST

Israel gets new list of hostages to be released Saturday

A new list of hostages to be released on Saturday was handed over to the Israel Defense Forces and Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, Israeli officials said.

The number of hostages to be released was not disclosed. Israeli officials said the list follows the schedule negotiated for freeing the captives in groups over a four-day cease-fire.

ABC News’ Diane Macedo spoke with International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson John Straziuso about the hostage and detainee release in Israel and Gaza, and what comes next.
4:40

Red Cross says it will 'repeat this process' and reduce family separation

ABC News’ Diane Macedo spoke with International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson John Straziuso about the hostage and detainee release in Israel and Gaza, and what comes next.
ABCNews.com

On Friday, 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis, were released by Hamas.

Lt. Col. Gal Hirsh, appointed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of Israeli captives in Gaza, has shared the list with family members of the hostages set to be released, Israeli officials said.

Israeli security officials are checking the list, officials said, adding that more information will be released as needed.

-ABC News Matt Gutman

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