The Qassam Brigades allow Israeli hostages to speak with their families by phone before their release
Hamas allowed Israeli hostages to speak with their families by phone on Monday before their release, according to Israeli media.
A prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel began on Monday, implementing an agreement that also includes a ceasefire that went into effect last Friday.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported: “The families of the hostages received direct phone calls from Hamas prior to their release”.
Earlier on Monday, Hamas handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross seven of the 20 living Israeli prisoners scheduled to be released today.
The Red Cross later handed over the seven prisoners, including Matan, to the Israeli army, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
The phone calls between hostages and their families are an unprecedented step in the history of prisoner exchange deals between the Palestinians and Israel.
The prisoners are transferred to the Re’im settlement near the Gaza Strip, where their family members are waiting for them.
They are then transported to Israel via military helicopters for medical examinations.
In return, Israel is scheduled to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, and 1,718 prisoners arrested in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023, according to lists published by Hamas.
