The Palestinian Hamas movement released a hostage with Russian citizenship, after which he was handed over to the Red Cross, TASS reports, citing the press secretary of the head of the movement’s Politburo, Ismail Haniya Taher al-Nuna. Hamas leaders made this decision in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added.
In response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin and in recognition of Russia’s position in supporting the Palestinian cause, Hamas released a hostage with Russian citizenship, the statement said.
The day before, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, handed over 20 hostages to the Red Cross, 13 of whom were Israelis and seven were citizens of other states.
Prior to this, the Palestinian side promised to hand over a group of hostages to Israel. The plan is to exchange 50 Israelis for 150 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom are women and children.
Earlier, cardiologist Rihal, who was evacuated to Russia, said that the Al-Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip was almost completely destroyed. According to him, this is the result of a blockade of the hospital by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The medic was in the medical complex when the Israeli military seized the facility; he could not leave the building for about seven days.
