Istanbul: The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) successfully secured the release of five Thai hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. This operation was conducted on Thursday, following direct orders from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been actively involved in diplomatic negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the release of the hostages coincides with the first six-week phase of a ceasefire agreement initiated on January 19. This agreement temporarily halts Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 47,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and injuries to over 111,000 individuals since October 7, 2023.

The ceasefire deal has already facilitated the release of ten Israeli captives in exchange for 290 Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, 110 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be freed from Israeli custody on Thursday. As part of the initial phase of the agreement, 33 Israeli captives are scheduled to be released in return for approximately 1,700 to 2,000 Palestinian detainees.

The situation in Gaza continues to be dire, with more than 11,000 individuals reported missing, extensive destruction, and a severe humanitarian crisis impacting numerous elderly and children. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Concurrently, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its military actions in the enclave.