IDF Confirms Red Cross Transfer of Israeli and Thai Hostages Amid Extension Talks
The Israel Defense Forces announced late Wednesday evening that 10 Israeli and four Thai hostages had been received by the Red Cross and were being transported to Israeli territory.
The announcement comes as reports emerged that the hostage transfer was delayed and that Israel’s War Cabinet was preparing to convene.
Liat Atzili, one of the 10 Israeli hostages slated to be released, is a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, and Itay Regev, who is also in the group being transported by the Red Cross, is a Russian Israeli dual citizen.
Regev is the third Russian Israeli to be released today with Yelena Trupanov and her mother Irena Teti having been freed and transferred to Israel earlier Wednesday as part of a separate “gesture” by Hamas to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The remaining eight hostages currently being ferried to Israel territory by the Red Cross through Egypt are Raaya Rotem, the mother of recently released 12-year-old Hila Rotem, Raz Ben-Ami, Yarden Roman-Gat, Moran Stela Yanai, Liam Or, Ofer Engel, Amit Shani, and Gali Tarshansky.
Six of the returned hostages come from Kibbutz Be’eri, a community in southern Israel that was profoundly devastated during the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Amit Shani’s grandmother Dalia Weissmann spoke with The Media Line about her 16-year-old grandson’s abduction near Kibbutz Be’eri during Hamas’ incursion into southern Israel. Shani is one of three male minors being released alongside six women.
As talks between Israel and Hamas, as well as partners Egypt, Qatar, and the United States of extending the truce beyond Wednesday continue, 137 hostages remain in Gaza.
