Russian President Vladimir Putin – © Alexey Danichev/POOL/TASS
The Hamas Movement will release two hostages with Russian citizenship from the Gaza Strip in a gesture of “appreciation” for the position taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The announcement was made on November 29 by Moussa Abu Marzouk, an official from the Hamas political wing. It is unclear if the two also hold Israeli citizenship.
The release of the two Russian citizens will be in addition to the ten Israelis who are set to be released later in the day as part of the temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which was brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed earlier in the day that it had received a list with the names of abducted Israelis who will be released by Hamas. At least 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange.
From its side, Hamas said that it was able to verify that three of the hostages in Gaza were killed in Israeli strikes before the ceasefire entered into effect.
Earlier this week, the relatives of Israeli-Russian hostages being held captive by Hamas in Gaza went to Moscow earlier this week to seek the Kremlin’s assistance in getting their family members freed.
Moscow assisted in the release of Roni Krivoi on November 26. Krivoi was released in a separate agreement from the hostage release agreement, apparently as a favor by Hamas to Moscow. Israel didn’t release any Palestinian prisoners in exchange for him.
Since the temporary ceasefire in Gaza entered into effect, Hamas has released 50 Israeli hostages. Aside from Krivoi, all the freed hostages were women and children. From its side, Israel released 150 Palestinian women and children serving time in Israeli prison for security offenses.
In addition, 18 foreigners, 17 Thais and a Filipino, were released by Hamas as part of a separate deal that was brokered by Iran.
The exact number of hostages remaining in Gaza remains unknown. However, efforts are currently underway to further expand the ceasefire and secure the release of more people.
