Middle East Crisis

Gaza War
Israel Ports Palestinians from Northern Gaza – Demands Release of Civilian Hostages

Israel will not allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza until Arbel Yehud, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, is released. This was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's staff, writes AFP.

According to Israel, Yehud was supposed to be among those released by the terror group today, but that was not the case. Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli military spokesman accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement by not prioritizing the release of civilian hostages.

Two Hamas sources told the news agency that Yehud is in good health and will be released next Saturday instead.

Ceasefire
200 Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for hostages

Israel has released 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in exchange for the four Israeli hostages released by Hamas earlier on Saturday.

According to the AP news agency, 120 of the prisoners are serving life sentences for murder, among other crimes. The youngest to be released today is 15 years old.

AFP reports that one of the released prisoners is 69-year-old Mohammed al-Tous, who at 40 years of age is the longest-serving Palestinian in an Israeli prison. al-Tous is a member of the Fatah movement, founded by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

The exchange is the second in the first phase of the ceasefire. Last weekend, three Israeli hostages were released at the same time as 90 Palestinians were released by Israel.

Most of those released were women and minors who, according to Israel, were imprisoned for violations against the country's security, which includes everything from stone-throwing to more serious charges such as attempted murder.

Four more Israeli hostages released in Gaza

Four female soldiers held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023, have been released by the terror group, several media outlets report. The release took place in Palestine Square in Gaza City shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday morning.

Video footage from the scene showed a large number of armed Hamas men surrounding four Red Cross vehicles. Pictures show the four women being paraded on stage before being taken away in the aid organization's convoy.

The women will now undergo medical examinations before being reunited with their families.

Haaretz reports that cheers erupted in Tel Aviv in connection with the release.

The four hostages released are 19-year-old Liri Albag and 20-year-old Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev, all of whom were serving in the military on October 7.

In exchange, Israel will release 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees, 70 of whom are expected to be released today. The exchange is part of the first phase of the ceasefire.

Israel-Huthi
Red Cross: Houthis have released 153 prisoners of war

Houthi rebels in Yemen have released 153 prisoners of war. The Red Cross reports, AP writes.

Already on Friday, there were signals that the Houthi movement planned to release prisoners, in an attempt to ease tensions after last weekend's ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The Red Cross calls the release a positive step towards resuming negotiations to end the war in Yemen.

UN staff kidnapped by Houthis – travel halted

The UN has stopped all staff from traveling to Houthi-controlled areas after seven UN staff were captured by the Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen's capital Sanaa. The AP reports.

The Houthi rebels are already holding a large number of staff from the UN and other aid agencies captive. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is demanding that all aid workers be released "immediately".

-Their continued arbitrary detention is unacceptable, Guterres said, according to TT.