(The Center Square) – A North Carolina native’s wife is among the 17 hostages released Sunday from Gaza as the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war continued.
A fourth exchange was planned for Monday, the fifth day of the temporary ceasefire and the end of it unless extended. Published reports say the truce was mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Monday the truce would last another two days.
Adrienne Siegel, wife of Keith Seigel, was among those released on Sunday. Keith Seigel is a Chapel Hill native and remains held captive, according to reports. The couple are humanitarian workers.
Also released by Abigail mor Edan, a 4-year-old that witnessed Hamas killing her mother and her father. She’s in the care of Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Israel.
“What she endured is unthinkable,” said President Joe Biden.
Edan’s siblings, ages 6 and 10, survived the attack locked in a closet.
Shipments of fuel and supplies have gone into Gaza during the truce. The volume, however, has been judged minimal compared to the 2.3 million Palestinian population.
Reports Monday said 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the Oct. 7 start of the war. In Israel, about 1,200 are dead and most of those were during the initial fighting.
