Israel says all 20 living hostages have been released by Hamas to the Red Cross.

According to Israel, the last 13 surviving hostages have been released by Hamas and are on their way to Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Of the 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, 20 were believed to still be alive. 

A first group of seven was released earlier today and is back in Israeli territory, while the remains of the 28 others are expected to be transferred later today.

Live video showed a convoy of five Red Cross vehicles carrying the remaining hostages leaving Khan Younis in southern Gaza, to the cheers of onlookers and surrounded by Hamas officers. 

Hamas had pledged to release the hostages by today in exchange for 250 prisoners serving life sentences and more than 1,700 Palestinians detained after the group’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.

More than 67,000 people have been killed in Israel’s offensive on Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Large swaths of the enclave have been destroyed, and famine has been declared in part of northern Gaza. (NBC News)

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Eight Sri Lankan nationals who were detained at an illegal cyber slave camp in Myanmar, which is part of a human trafficking racket, have been rescued, it was reported.

According to News1st, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Myanmar Janaka Bandara said the Myanmar Home Affairs Ministry has officially confirmed the rescue of the eight Sri Lankans.

Stating that the group includes six males and two females, he further said that the Sri Lankans are at the Myamaddi Police Station, which is in a region that is operated by the Government of Myanmar.

The Ambassador added that the Sri Lankan Mission, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and other relevant authorities will work towards the safe return of the rescued Sri Lankans. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Myanmar, has been engaged in efforts to rescue and repatriate around 56 Sri Lankans who became victims of human trafficking and were trapped in Myanmar.

In December last year, it was reported that the group had been brought to Thailand for jobs related to the IT Industry and instead had been held captive at a camp in the Cyber Criminal area operated by a terrorist group in Myanmar.

Reports at the time revealed that the group of Sri Lankans were being subjected to inhumane treatment by the terrorist group, with the latter demanding US$ 8000 per person for their release. 

Following a discussion with the Myanmar authorities, the Embassy of Sri Lanka was able to last year rescue 32 Sri Lankans who were held captive.

Thereafter, discussions were underway between Sri Lankan and Myanmar authorities to rescue the remaining 56 Sri Lankans who were being held captive. (NewsWire)

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