Hamas said to release 25 hostages in first step of ceasefire deal

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FILE – A man holds his baby as he looks at posters of the men, women and children held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, during a vigil marking 30 days since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that started the fighting, in Jerusalem, Israel on Nov. 5, 2023. As the military sets its sights on southern Gaza in its campaign to stamp out Hamas, key challenges loom. International patience for a protracted invasion has begun to wear thin. And with some 2 million displaced Gaza residents staying in crowded shelters in the south in dire conditions, a broad military offensive there could unleash a new humanitarian disaster during the cold, wet winter. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) Maya Alleruzzo/AP

Hamas said to release 25 hostages in first step of ceasefire deal

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Hamas released on Friday the first in a group of more than four dozen hostages to be set free as part of a deal between the terrorist group and Israel.

A four-day pause in fighting began Friday morning Israeli time as part of a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. The first group included 13 Israelis and 12 Thai nationals, according to reports.

ANATOMY OF A DEAL: HOW THE ISRAEL-HAMAS HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS PLAYED OUT

As part of the deal, Hamas is set to release about 50 hostages over the next few days. Israel also agreed to release three Palestinians held in Israeli custody for every Israeli who is released.

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Another part of the deal is that humanitarian aid is set to come into Gaza, which began Friday morning.

Hamas is estimated to have taken nearly 240 hostages from its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. This is the first hold on fighting since the invasion.

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