Qatar's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the release of 24 hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip after seven weeks of captivity. The hostages, including 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thai citizens, and a Filipino citizen, were undergoing medical checks before being transferred to Israel. The hostages are the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began Friday. Israel is to release 39 Palestinian prisoners later Friday.
