Live Reporting
Edited by Nathan Williams
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04:19 GMT 27 November 2023
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Hostages and prisoners released on third day of trucepublished at 03:05 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023
03:05 GMT 27 November 2023
Nathan Williams
Live reporterWe're pausing our live coverage for the next hour or so, so here's a quick recap on where things stand in the Israel-Gaza war.
Fourteen Israeli and three foreign nationals were released fromGaza today.
Among them was Abigail Idan, a four-year-old girl with joint Israeli and US citizenship. Both her parents were killed in the 7 Octoberattack by Hamas on Israel that triggered the war.
President Biden welcomed her release, saying she had been throughterrible trauma.
Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners in return. Crowds gatheredin Ramallah in the occupied West Bank to welcome them home.
The exchange comes on the third day of a fragile four-day pause infighting. Gazans have been using the opportunity to get in much-needed suppliesof fuel food and medicine.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson says that both sides appear to be edging towards an extension to the current pause.
Hamas has said it is seeking to extend the truce and increase thenumber of hostages released – 24-hours before the current deal expires.
And a senior Palestinian official has told the BBC that Hamas toldnegotiators it was ready to extend the pause by up to four days.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has talked about his "framework",under which the release of 10 extra hostages could lead to another day ofpause in the fighting.
But he also said that after the framework ends Israel will return toits goals, which include the elimination of Hamas.
You can continue to follow our coverage of the conflict with these key stories:
- Four-year old girl among released hostages
- For many hostage familes the wait goes on
- Watch: Gazans take stock of damaged neighbourhoods
- What is Hamas and why is it fighting Israel in Gaza?
Released Palestinian describes Israeli detention as 'humiliating'published at 02:50 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023
02:50 GMT 27 November 2023
Sarah Al-Suwaisa was one of the 39 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel in the first exchange for hostages on Friday.
Speaking after her release, she said she felt "humiliated" by her time in jail, and that pepper spray was used against detainees.
She alleged they were locked in dark rooms, saying "they suffered from the cold"."Only Hamas felt our sufferings," she added.
Clarification: The video below, posted on Saturday at 14:48 GMT, originally carried inaccurate subtitles due to an error in the editing process. It has now been updated to a longer version.
Palestinian receiving treatment for shooting freed by Israelpublished at 23:20 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
23:20 GMT 26 November 2023
Wael Hussein Al Sayed
Reporting from CairoWhen Palestinians cheered this evening in the streets of Ramallah in the West Bank for the release of 39 more prisoners under the hostage deal, Abdurahman Al-Zaghal from Silwan village in east Jerusalem was not one of those freed from jail because he was under house arrest and receiving treatment.
Al-Zaghal, said to be aged 14, was shot in the head and hit by shrapnel in the lower part of his body in August this year as he went out to buy bread, according to his uncle. Israeli authorities said he was trying to throw a petrol bomb at a settlement post in the area.
Al-Zaghal’s trial was held in absentia as he was still in intensive care at an Israeli hospital in west Jerusalem at the time.
He was seen today removing an electronic bracelet from his leg at the hospital where he’s receiving medical treatment.
Return of hostages 'stirs the soul', says Netanyahupublished at 22:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
22:56 GMT 26 November 2023
Benjamin Netanyahu has said the return of hostages from Gaza "stirs the soul" and repeated a vow to secure the release of those still being held.
"We brought back another group of hostagesthis evening - women and children - and we are moved from the depths of ourhearts, the entire nation, when we see this reuniting of families," he said in a statement.
He added that he and President Biden discussed the release of four-year-old Israeli-American Avigail Idan, both of whose parents were killed in the 7 October attacks, in a phone call earlier today.
"What a joy it is to see her with us," he said. "But, on theother hand, how sad it is that she is returning to a reality in which she hasno parents. She has no parents – but she has an entire nation that embraces herand we will take care of all her needs."
Mother of freed Palestinian prisoner says joy 'incomplete'published at 22:37 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
22:37 GMT 26 November 2023
The mother of Mohammed Al-Awar, a Palestinian minor freedtoday from an Israeli prison as part of the truce deal between Israel and Hamas said she had mixed feelings about the release of her son.
"Our joyis incomplete because of the huge number of people killed in Gaza,” she said in a video.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,500 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign following the 7 October attacks. Those attacks by Hamas killed 1,200 people, with about 240 taken hostage.
Israel released today 39 Palestinian prisoners, 21 of whom arefrom Jerusalem.
Al-Awar was sentenced to 32 months in jail, of which heserved 16 months. He moved between two Israeli prisons, Damon and Megiddo, before he was released this afternoon.
Freed hostage, 84, in 'critical condition' after 'neglect', says hospitalpublished at 22:27 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
22:27 GMT 26 November 2023
Elma Avraham, an 84-year-old hostage who was rushed to hospital after being released by Hamas, has suffered "significant medical neglect", her doctors have said.
Avraham was among the 17 hostages released earlier today and was taken to the Soroka Medical Center by helicopter.
In a statement, the head of the hospital, Dr. Shlomi Codish, described Avraham's condition as "critical" and said there was a "risk to her life".
"She is treated in an emergencydepartment after significant medical neglect for the past several weeks whilebeing held by Hamas," he said.
"She will be admitted to our intensive careunit, and we hope we will be able to stabilise and improve her condition."
Mother embraces daughters as they reunite after being releasedpublished at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
22:13 GMT 26 November 2023
Image source, Family handoutMaayan Zin, the mother of Dafna, 15. and Ela, eight, has spoken of her relief after being reunited with them both following their release by Hamas today.
She said she had been living in "terrible uncertainty" while her daughters were being kept as hostages.
"These were 51 days in which I lived between despair and hope, between pain and optimism, and I am happy that now I am here with them. The girls are returning to a new and complex situation, and now we have a period of recovery that will take time," she said.
But Maayan went on to add that her feelings of joy are "mixed with sadness" for those who are still being kept captive, as she added that "my heart will not be whole again until everyone returns home safely”.
"The moment will come to thank everyone who was around me and supported me, and everyone who helped to cry out my cry in the country and the world," she said.
Israel and Hamas appear to edge towards extending pausepublished at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
21:47 GMT 26 November 2023
Lucy Williamson
Reporting from the West BankBoth Israel and Hamas appear to be edging towards extending their fragile truce, 24 hours before their current deal expires.
Tonight, Hamas offered to extend the agreement, and increase the number of hostages released.
A senior Palestinian official told the BBC that Hamas had told negotiators it was ready to extend the pause in fighting by two to four days, to allow the release of 20 to 40 Israeli hostages.
The possibility of an extension was mapped out in the original deal between Israel and Hamas, and there are thought to be more than a dozen children still held hostage in Gaza.
Within hours of the Hamas statement, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to this "framework", under which the release of ten extra hostages would lead to another day of truce, calling it "a blessed thing".
But, Netanyahu said, "at the end of that framework, we will return with all our strength to realise our goals".
And top of Israel’s list of goals in Gaza is the elimination of Hamas.
Watch: Celebrations in Ramallah after Palestinian prisoners releasedpublished at 21:28 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
21:28 GMT 26 November 2023
As we've been reporting, 39 Palestinian prisoners were releasedearlier today in exchange for 17 Israeli and foreign national hostages held inGaza.
The released Palestinians were greeted with celebrations inRamallah, in the occupied West Bank.
Crowds gathered around a bus which carried the some of theprisoners, as people waved flags and chanted and cheered.
Hamas needs to locate more hostages to extend truce, says Qatarpublished at 21:07 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
21:07 GMT 26 November 2023
Hamas would need to locate dozens of hostages held in Gaza by other groups in order to secure an extension of the current truce, the Qatari prime minister has said, in an interview with the Financial Times, external.
Many of those kidnapped in the 7 October attacks are being held by Hamas, but groups including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which also participated, are believed to be holding some.
The pause in fighting is due to end on Monday, but Hamas has said it is seeking an extension and would be willing to release more hostages in return. Qatar has been acting as a key mediator in negotiations between the group and Israel.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman said more than 40 women and children are thought to be being held by groups besides Hamas and that "we don’t yet have any clear information [about] how many they can find".
"Oneof the purposes [of the pause] is they [Hamas] will have time to search for therest of the missing people,” he said. “If they get additional women and children, there will be an extension."
Asked about the possibility that some hostages were being held by other groups at a media briefing today, President Biden said: "Wethink there are probably other militant groups but we are not certain."
Israeli operations in Gaza will resume with full force after truce, says Netanyahupublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
20:56 GMT 26 November 2023
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he told President Bidenin a phone call today that Israel will restart its operations in Gaza with fullforce once the current truce comes to an end.
Israel paused its operations in Gaza on Friday to allow hostagesbeing held in the territory to be freed in return for the release ofPalestinian prisoners, but the truce is only set to last until Monday.
Netanyahu added that he would welcome an extension to the truceif it meant the release of 10 more hostages each day, as set out in the initialagreement.
A White House readout of the call said the two leaders hadagreed that "they will continue working to secure the release of allhostages".
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says more than 14,500 people, including at least 5,500 children, have been killed in Gaza since Israel began attacking the territory in reprisal for the 7 October attacks. UN agencies say the ministry provides reliable figures.
Freed hostage, 84, in life-threatening condition, Israeli media reportpublished at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
20:44 GMT 26 November 2023
Image source, Family of Elma AvrahamOne of the Israeli hostages freed by Hamas today is in a life-threatening condition, Israeli media is reporting
Elma Avraham, 84, was reportedly transferred directly to hospital by helicopterafter being handed over to Israel from Gaza.
Citing a statement by the Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, theTimes of Israel said Avraham had been described as being in a "poor physicalcondition and severe clinical condition".
We previously reported that Avraham was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where she has lived for almost 50 years, in the 7 October attacks, and that she was filmed being driven away by the hostage-takers.
Man kidnapped at music festival among those releasedpublished at 20:38 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
20:38 GMT 26 November 2023
Image source, Family handoutRoni Krivoi, 25, who lives in Karmiel, northern Israel, was kidnapped from the Re'im festival while working there on the sound crew.
We previously reported the dual Israeli-Russian national's family tried to contact him on his phone but someone answered their call in Arabic. The Israeli military later told them they believed he had been abducted.
He was one of those released by Hamas on Sunday after being taken hostage for 51 days.
All hostages released today now in Israel, says Israeli militarypublished at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
20:26 GMT 26 November 2023
All 17 hostages released by Hamas today are now in Israel, the country's military has confirmed.
It said earlier that 12 of those released were on their way to the Hatzerim Base, west of Be'er Sheva, and that after a medical assessment they would be flown to hospitals and reunited with their families.
We also know that one of the Israeli hostages was transferred directly to hospital via helicopter as soon as they returned to Israel.
Israel later confirmed that four people - an Israeli and three foreign nationals - had been met at the KeremShalom Crossing on Israel's border with Egypt and were being taken to hospital.
Chen Goldstein-Almog and her children among hostages releasedpublished at 20:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
20:16 GMT 26 November 2023
Image source, Hostages and missing families forumHere are more details on some of the released captives, withinformation about them provided by the a campaign group speaking on behalf offriends and families of hostages.
Chen Goldstein-Almog: 48-year-oldsocial worker. The campaign group says Chen loves working out and running.
Her husband Nadav and eldest daughter Yam were killed when Hamasattacked their kibbutz on 7 October.
Chen was kidnapped alongside her three other children.
Agam Goldstein-Almog: 17years old. An outstanding student who loves studying literature and philosophy.
Gal Goldstein-Almog: 11years old. Gal plays soccer and basketball and is a huge sports fan.
Tal Goldstein-Almog: 8years old. He plays basketball, loves drawing cartoons.
Family express 'relief and gratitude' as four-year-old hostage releasedpublished at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
19:49 GMT 26 November 2023
Image source, Family handoutThe family of four-year-old Israeli-American Avigail Idan - who was one of those kidnapped by Hamas - have said there are "no words to express our relief and gratitude" after her release.
Her great aunt and cousin Liz Hirsh Naftali and Noa Naftali went on to add they "hoped and prayed today would come".
They said in a statement:
Quote Message
"Today’s release proves that it’s possible. We can get all hostages back home. We have to keep pushing. We will continue to stand with the families of all the hostages still held captive, and we remain committed as ever to securing their safe and swift return."
They also thanked US President Joe Biden, his team, the Qatari government and all those involved in are involved in securing the release of Abigail and the other hostages.
IDF says freeing of four-year-old captive shows war justifiedpublished at 19:38 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
19:38 GMT 26 November 2023
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari has been giving an updateto reporters following the release of 17 hostages in Gaza in exchange for 39Palestinian prisoners.
He started by listing the names of the freed hostages, adding theyoungest four-year-old Abigail Edan is "proof this is a justified war,fighting against a cruel enemy".
Hagari said those still being held had not been forgotten as "thereis still so much work left ahead of us".
When asked whether Israel was prepared for more fighting, he saidIsraeli troops were reorganising themselves and would be ready "even if weneed to do it tomorrow".
"We want torelease our hostages from within the incarceration of Hamas, we will continuefighting to release our hostages."
In pictures: Palestinian prisoners released by Israelpublished at 19:28 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
19:28 GMT 26 November 2023
As we've been reporting Israel has confirmed the release of 39 Palestinian prisoners, who were let out in exchange for 14 Israeli hostages and four foreign nationals held by Hamas.
Image source, ReutersImage source, ReutersImage source, ReutersHamas says it is seeking to extend four-day trucepublished at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023
19:09 GMT 26 November 2023
Hamas says it wants to see an extension of the current pause in fighting in Gaza, a move that could increase the number of hostages being released.
Under the current deal, the last day of the truce is Monday.
In a statement, Hamas says it is "seeking toextend the truce after the end of the four days through seriously trying toincrease the number of hostages released as stipulated in the humanitariantruce deal".
A senior Palestinian official familiar with negotiations taking place in Qatar has also told the BBC that Hamas has informed mediators it is willing to extend the pause by two to four days, and that an extension could see the release of an additional 20 to 40 Israeli prisoners.
Under the terms of the current pause, which began on Friday, a total of 50 Israeli hostages will be freed over four days in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
We have yet to hear from the Israeli government on this latest statement by Hamas. However, it has previously said the truce could be extended if at least 10 Israelis a day are released, although it has also insisted the pause will only be temporary and vowed to wipe out Hamas.
