Video footage appearing to show the first Israeli hostages was broadcast on Sunday, showing chaotic scenes in the Gaza Strip, with dozens more expected to be freed.
After 15 months of destruction and deaths, reports on Wednesday revealed that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a temporary ceasefire. On ABC News’ “This Week,” host Whit Johnson aired the first footage of the first group of hostages released by Hamas and turned over to the Red Cross. (Related: ‘The Art of Dealing’: Geraldo Rivera says ‘Trump scared everyone’ and ‘terminated’ ceasefire agreement)
“Hamas is proceeding with the release of hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, which came into effect just hours ago at 4:15 a.m. Eastern time,” Prime Minister Johnson said. “There was a nearly three-hour delay because Israel announced it had not yet received the names of the three hostages scheduled for release. But those names have since been released, so we wanted to show you these live footage now. Masu.”
“This – actually, this was recorded a while ago. This is Gaza. There’s a chaotic scene there. It’s not clear exactly what was going on here. But we understand that the hostages were in some of these vans. This was a transfer from Hamas to the Red Cross,” Johnson added.
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The three women, 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, and 28-year-old Emily Damari, are the first of the Israeli hostages to be freed on Sunday in six years. A total of 33 prisoners are scheduled to be released. -duration of weeks, According to Go to CBS News. The first phase of the agreement includes the release of women over 50, children and hostages, the report said.
The first three hostages were seen being transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross, and the agreement reportedly resulted in fighter jets and drones disappearing from the skies. In exchange for the first group of prisoners, an estimated 191 aid trucks began entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, CBS News reported.
Johnson went on to say that images showed trucks lining up at the border, and noted that Israel also plans to release Palestinian prisoners.
“Those aid trucks are already lined up on the Egyptian side of the Gaza border. They will then go in as part of the exchange,” Johnson said. “You can see them coming through the gates. As part of the deal, Israel also agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.”
held by Biden press conference On Sunday, he outlined plans for the remaining hostages following their release, adding that it was his proposal from May 2024 that an agreement had been reached.
“A ceasefire is in effect in Gaza, and hostages are being released today. Three Israeli women were held against their will in dark tunnels for 470 days. Four more within seven days. three more hostages, including at least two Americans, will be released every seven days after that,” Biden said. “Today, the guns in Gaza have fallen silent. This was the agreement I outlined to the world on May 31st.”
But on Wednesday, in response to reports that Israel and Hamas had reached a deal, President-elect Donald Trump wrote an op-ed for Truth Social that a ceasefire “could only happen as a result of a historic victory in November.” I wrote it. Notably, in December, President Trump warned Middle Eastern leaders and terrorists that there would be “retribution in hell” for those who continue to commit “atrocities against humanity.”
President Trump celebrated the first phase of the Truth Social agreement. write Sunday: “The hostages will start coming out today!” Three wonderful young women will be the first. ”
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