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.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
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 26, 2023, 9:47 AM EST

American hostage could be released Sunday: Jake Sullivan

One American hostage could be released from Gaza on Sunday as part of a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told ABC "This Week."

"This first set of hostages, 50 hostages over four days, is women and children -- and three Americans [are] in that category, two women and one child," Sullivan told "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl. "We have reason to believe one of those Americans will be released today."

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl interviews White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on “This Week.”
6:46

‘Hamas gained some benefits’ from temporary cease-fire deal: Jake Sullivan

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl interviews White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on “This Week.”
ABCNews.com

Still, Sullivan cautioned, "Until we actually see her safe and sound ... we cannot have 100% certainty that it will happen. So we're going to watch this hour by hour and hopefully have a moment of joy where one of the Americans is safely out and ultimately reunited with her family. That's what we are waiting for as we speak."

-ABC News' Tal Alexrod

Nov 26, 2023, 9:17 AM EST

13 more hostages expected to be released Sunday: Egyptian officials

Egypt's State Information Service said another 13 hostages will be freed by the Hamas terror group Sunday after 51 days in captivity in Gaza.

Israel is expected to free 39 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails on Sunday as part of the negotiated agreement, Egyptian officials said.

-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy

Nov 25, 2023, 8:11 PM EST

33 Palestinian detainees released to West Bank: ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it facilitated the release on Saturday of 33 Palestinian detainees from Israel to the West Bank.

A bus carrying the detainees arrived in Al Bireh in the West Bank early Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

Nov 25, 2023, 7:58 PM EST

More aid delivered to Gaza on 2nd day of pause: UN

On the second day of the humanitarian pause, 61 trucks of aid were delivered to northern Gaza on Saturday, the largest number since Oct. 7, according to the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The aid included food, water and emergency medical supplies, as well as 11 ambulances delivered to Al Shifa Hospital to help with evacuations, OCHA said.

Additionally, nearly 200 trucks and 129,000 liters of fuel crossed into Gaza on Saturday, it said.

"The longer the pause lasts, the more aid humanitarian agencies will be able to send in and across Gaza," OCHA said in a statement.

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