Israel Frees 1,996 Palestinian Prisoners After Hamas Holds Nova Festival Hostages in Tunnels

Radio Farda says that “the twenty people who were freed on Monday, 21 Mehr” spent “most of the two years in Hamas tunnels” after being abducted during Hamas’s attack on Israel from the Nova festival on 7 October 2023.

“The resolution to achieve a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians was adopted on Friday, September 12 (21 Shahrivar) by the United Nations General Assembly with 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions”

DW

It adds that Israel, in exchange for releasing these citizens, freed “1,996 Palestinian prisoners,” including “250 of whom were serving life terms for killing Israelis.”

DW

Radio Farda also says the story is “not closed,” because Hamas “has so far released only a small number of bodies” and claims it does not know the whereabouts of the remaining bodies.

In a separate thread, خبرگزاری دانشجو says Nimrod Cohen—an Israeli armored tank crewman moved to the Gaza Strip during the October 7 operation—was “handed over to the International Red Cross this morning.”

DW reports that the United Nations General Assembly adopted on Friday, September 12 (21 Shahrivar) the seven-page “New York Declaration” with “142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.”

DW says the resolution condemned “Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023,” and also condemned “Israel’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, the siege, and the creation of a famine,” describing the result as “a humanitarian catastrophe and a severe protection crisis for civilians.”

samanews.ps

DW quotes French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot saying, “Today, for the first time, the United Nations has adopted a text that condemns Hamas for its crimes and calls for its surrender and disarmament.”

DW also reports that the United States called Friday’s vote “another misleading and ill-timed propaganda show” that undermines serious diplomatic efforts to end the war, while Morgan Ortagus described it as “a blow to peace and a reward for Hamas.”

samanews.ps describes an Israeli campaign to track those it says participated in the October 7 assault, saying the operation relies on “analyzing vast amounts of data and video clips” and reviewing “thousands of hours of footage.”

“Israeli citizens wonder why the state won’t return October 7 footage it confiscated from them”

The Grayzone

It says the Wall Street Journal reported that identifying targets can take “days, sometimes months or even years,” and that after the ceasefire and release of the last hostages alive, the NILI group continued with a reduced number of members to track targets and relay information to ground forces inside Gaza.

In a different dispute over evidence, The Grayzone says Israeli authorities are refusing to return “a massive trove of video documentation of the Oct. 7 attack,” quoting Channel 13 that “all the cameras, memory cards and films that documented the atrocities were collected.”

The Grayzone also quotes an Israeli army reservist saying, “They disconnected what was needed, took it and moved on – that was the last time we saw the materials,” while the outlet says the IDF rejected accusations that it is withholding documentation and is adopting policies for returning evidence.