Female Palestinian Prisoner Released in Israeli-Hamas Cease-Fire | VOA News

Twenty-four hostages, including 13 Israeli women and children and 10 Thai nationals and a Filipino were released Friday evening. Meanwhile, the Israeli government freed 39 Palestinian women and male juveniles who had been imprisoned or detained.

As a cease-fire took effect between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, President Joe Biden on Friday took partial credit for the negotiated release of hostages by Hamas and the freeing of prisoners by Israel, saying it was the “result of extensive U.S. diplomacy.”

The president said he and his team have been working for weeks for a pause in the fighting, pressing for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and for the release of those abducted by Hamas in Israel on October 7.