Palestinian (wearing grey jumpers) after being released from Israeli prison in Ramallah cheer among supporters in the occupied West Bank early on November 26, 2023. (Photo by Jaafar Ashtiyeh / AFP)
As 39 Palestinian women and children were released from Israeli prisons at the end of day 2 of the humanitarian truce agreement, 13 Israeli hostages in addition to 4 civilians made it back to their families in Israel.
Official spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majeb bin Mohammed Al Ansari expressed the country's hope "that the momentum of the last 48 hours can be sustained to extend the pause once the current deal expires and lead to further discussions about a more sustainable truce to end the violence."
Watch this page for more live updates, on the day three of truce in Gaza.
[12:45pm Doha Time] More Palestinian prisoners on third day of truce
39 Palestinian prisoners were freed in the captives exchange deal between Hamas and Israel during the third day of a four-day truce deal.
[11:05pm Doha Time] In a post on X, US President Joe Biden says a two-state solution is the only way to guarantee the long-term security of both the Israeli and the Palestinian people, and to make sure both sides can live in equal measures of freedom and dignity.
His comments come after 39 Palestinians, 13 Israelis, three Thais and one Russian-Israeli dual national were released on the third day of the four-day truce.
A two-state solution is the only way to guarantee the long-term security of both the Israeli and the Palestinian people.
— President Biden (@POTUS) November 26, 2023
To make sure Israelis and Palestinians alike can live in equal measures of freedom and dignity.
We will not give up on working toward this goal.
[10:03pm Doha Time] Hamas seriously looking into increasing the number of detainees released, as stated in the humanitarian truce agreement
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[9:20pm Doha Time] Qatari diplomatic delegation arrives in Gaza to oversee entry, delivery of Qatari aid
Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater arrived on Sunday in the Gaza Strip as part of a Qatari diplomatic delegation to oversee the delivery of an additional Qatari aid package to the Palestinian people.
HE Al Khater observed the flow of Qatari humanitarian assistance through the Rafah crossing to the Gaza Strip during the current humanitarian pause between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. More here.
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[9:08pm Doha Time] 39 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons
Israel’s prison service said 39 Palestinians were released under the terms of a truce agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, reported Al Jazeera.
The announcement came after 13 Israeli captives were released in the Palestinian territory under the deal, along with three Thais and a Russian-Israeli dual citizen.
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[8:38pm Doha Time] UPDATE - Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Among those released were a girl holding an American citizenship, a South African woman, and two from Hungary.
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[8:10pm Doha Time] President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, HE Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, expressed his gratitude to the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his efforts that led to the humanitarian pause in Gaza. More here.
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[8:00pm Doha Time] Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari announced:
"All those released from Israeli prisons are minors, while those released from Gaza include 9 children and 4 women. Including 2 people holding American citizenships & 2 Hungarians."
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[7:13pm Doha Time] Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari reported that, in implementation of the commitments of the third day of the humanitarian truce agreement, 39 Palestinian civilians will be released today in exchange for the release of 13 Israeli detainees from Gaza, in addition to a detainee holding Russian citizenship and 3 Thai nationals who have already been handed over to the International Red Cross (ICRC).
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[6:46pm Doha Time] Only three women left among Palestinian prisoners yet to be released
Only three female prisoners are left to be released from the original list that included 33 prisoners, as told by the Palestinian Prisoners Society to Al Jazeera.
"The rest are going to be men. So we are looking at only three women still behind bars."
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[6:25pm Doha Time] Gazans use third day of truce to secure everyday needs
As the third day of the four-day truce is about to end, people inside the Gaza Strip are trying to get all kinds of needs for themselves which they were denied access to due to the relentless Israeli strikes on Gaza, reported Al Jazeera.
Some Palestinians returned to their homes to look for what remains, some are looking under the rubble, while others went to their farmlands to harvest olives.
Palestinians carrying some belongings walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Al-Zahra on the southern outskirts of Gaza City, on November 26, 2023. (Photo by Mahmud Hams / AFP)
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[5:56pm Doha Time] Hamas release Russian detainee
As reported by Al Jazeera, Hamas said it has released a Russian citizenship-holding detainee, in response to the efforts of the Russian President.
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[5:10pm Doha Time] Hope Gaza truce can be extended: Qatari minister
HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation at Qatar's Foreign Ministry, said she hopes there is an increase in the quantity of humanitarian aid being delivered into the enclave.
“We hope our efforts aiming at extending the humanitarian truce will be successful. This will enable more parties to deliver more relief aid,” Al Khater told Al Jazeera during a visit to southern Gaza. “There are several paths being followed, including the diplomatic one. To this end … efforts are being made, and talks being held in an attempt to have the truce extended."
The Minister of State for International Cooperation at Qatar's Foreign Ministry, HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, offers her sympathies to Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al Dahdouh.#Qatar #Gaza #GazaStrip #Palestine pic.twitter.com/xZ3chKE9kq
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) November 26, 2023
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[4:26pm Doha Time] Aid trucks lining up at Rafah crossing
A number of aid trucks are lined up to enter the besieged enclave through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. As part of the ongoing four-day truce deal, 200 aid trucks are to enter Gaza every day.
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing with Egypt on the second day of a truce between Israel and Hamas on Novembe 25, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Abed / AFP)
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[4:19pm Doha Time] Pope welcomes Gaza truce, hostage releases
Pope Francis has welcomed a truce between Hamas and Israel and said he prayed for further hostage releases, reported Al Jazeera.
“We pray that they all may be (freed) as rapidly as possible and that more humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza and that they insist on dialogue,” said the 86-year-old leader of the Catholic Church. “Dialogue is the only way, the only path to peace. Those who do not want to hold a dialogue do not want peace.”
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[2:45pm Doha Time] One Palestinian killed in Gaza amid truce: PRCS
A Palestinian farmer has been killed and another injured after they were targeted by Israeli forces in the Maghazi refugee camp in the centre of Gaza, the Palestine Red Crescent said.
There was no immediate comment from Israel on the report.
[2:20pm Doha Time] Hamas says key commander killed in Gaza
The armed wing of Hamas has revealed that senior commander Ahmed al-Ghandour, in charge of northern Gaza, was killed in the war.
Three other military leaders have also been killed in the fighting, the Qassam Brigades posted on its Telegram channel.
[11:02am Doha Time] UN Agency warns of significant increase in diseases among displaced in Gaza
At least 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced in the Gaza Strip and are facing the danger of significant spread of infectious diseases, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned in a recent statement.
Notable increases in certain diseases, such as diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, skin inflammation, and hygiene-related conditions, have been recorded due to the overcrowding and poor health conditions in UN shelters, said the statement.
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[4:50am Doha Time] Thai PM says four Thais among freed captives, all healthy
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has confirmed that four Thai nationals are among the latest captives freed by Hamas.
“Everyone is healthy. No one needed urgent medical attention,” Srettha said in a post on X on Saturday. “Everyone talks and walks normally. Everyone is glad to be released.”
Srettha added that the captives’ mental health was good and they were being transferred to Shamir Medical Center Hospital.
The release of the four means that 16 Thai nationals remain in captivity after Hamas allowed 10 to go free on Friday.
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[4:40am Doha Time] Freed Palestinian prisoner Israa Jaabis embraces family
Israa Jaabis, a Palestinian woman who suffered severe burns and was charged with attempted murder after her car exploded near an Israeli checkpoint in 2015, has been welcomed home by her family.
Palestinian Israa Jaabis (C) arrives at her home in early on November 26, 2023. (Photo by Oren Ziv / AFP)
Speaking to media after her release late on Saturday night, Jaabis said: “My wounds are visible and my struggles, I don’t need to talk about.”
She described the emotions of yearning to be with family as the price prisoners pay.
She also expressed concerns about other Palestinians she had been imprisoned with who were not released, including young girls who she said cried when she was released “because they’ve been subjected to a lot of things”.
“I’m talking about the small girls. They’ve been through things that nobody should witness,” Jaabis told journalists.
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[3:20 am Doha Time] Crowds gather to greet 39 released Palestinian prisoners
Thousands of people gathered in West Bank in expectation of meeting the 39 prisoners, greeting them and celebrating with them and their families on their release.
Crowd surrounds a bus carrying Palestinians released from Israeli jails in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank early on November 26, 2023. (Photo by Ahmad Gharabli / AFP)
Families expressed great personal joy and relief at eventually being able to see their loved ones – many of whom have spent considerable time incarcerated in Israeli jails – but also mixed emotions.
The freed Palestinian prisoners are all women and people under the age of 19.
