Israel Foreign Minister: "Release of Hamas Hostages Expected to Begin on the 23rd"

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he expects hostages held by Hamas to be released starting from the 23rd (local time).

According to major foreign media on the 22nd, Minister Cohen made this prediction in an interview with the Israel Defense Forces Radio. However, he did not confirm media reports stating that the first hostage release is scheduled for 5 a.m. on the 23rd.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the dawn of the 22nd, the Israeli government approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas, mediated by Qatar, through a cabinet vote. The agreement's main point is that Hamas will release 50 hostages it holds, and in return, Israel will implement a four-day ceasefire and release 150 Palestinians imprisoned in its prisons.

The hostages to be released by Hamas are reported to include 30 children, 8 mothers of children, and 12 other women. Israel publicly disclosed a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who are candidates for release through the courts, and plans to release 150 of them for whom there are no objections to their release.

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