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Sixth group of hostages released in Gaza taken to Rafah crossing — TV

Egyptian medics are providing treatment to some of the former hostages who were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners under an agreement with Israel

CAIRO, November 29. /TASS/. The sixth group of hostages released by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, has been taken to the Egypt-controlled area at the Rafah crossing on the border with the Gaza Strip, Extra News reported.

According to the television channel, Egyptian medics are providing treatment to some of the former hostages after they were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners under an agreement with Israel.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas announced that two female hostages holding Russian citizenship had been released and handed over to employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Hamas emphasized that this was done "in response to the efforts of Russian President" Vladimir Putin. The two hostages have already arrived in Israel, traveling from the Gaza Strip via Egypt. In Israel they were welcomed by military and security officers.

On November 22, Hamas announced an agreement with Israel, which was brokered by Egypt and Qatar, on a four-day humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip. Under the deal, 50 women and children under the age of 19 held hostage in the enclave are to be released in return for the release of 150 women and children under the age of 19 from Israeli prisons. The deal came into effect on November 24 at 7:00 a.m. local time (5:00 a.m. GMT), and later in the day the first group of hostages was released. On November 27, Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the truce for two more days on the previous terms. They are as follows: three Palestinian captives will be released daily in return for each freed Israeli hostage.