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Biden ‘deeply gratified’ over release of Liat Beinin

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released the list of the 16 hostages who returned to Israel in the most recent round of exchanges with Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu Soroka
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva with IDF soldiers and Israeli police officers injured on Oct. 7 during the fighting with Hamas terrorists who infiltrated the border and attacked communities in southern Israel, Nov. 29, 2023. Credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO.

U.S. President Joe Biden stated that he and his wife, Jill Biden, are “deeply gratified” that the American high school teacher and Yad Vashem guide Liat Beinin was one of the 16 hostages released on Wednesday.

“We remain determined to secure the release of every person taken hostage by Hamas during its brutal terrorist assault on Israel on Oct. 7, including Liat’s husband, Aviv [Atzili],” he stated.

The U.S. president repeated that his administration has worked “intensively” to “secure, sustain and extend” the pause in fighting, now in its sixth day.

“This deal has delivered meaningful results. Nearly 100 hostages have been returned to their loved ones,” Biden said. “The United States has led the international community to use this pause to accelerate the delivery of additional humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”

The Israeli government published the names of the 12 Israeli citizens released on Nov. 29 and early Thursday morning in Israel.

They are: Gal Tarshansky (13), Amit Shani (15), Ofir Engel (17), Liam Or (18), Itay Regev Jerbi (18), Yarden Roman-Gat (35), Moran Stela Yanai (40), Liat Beinin Atzili (49), Yelena Trupanov (50), Ra’aya Rotem (54), Raz Ben-Ami (56) and Irena Tati (73).

Hamas terrorists also released four Thai nationals not named by the Israeli government.

The agreement commits Washington to respect Israeli sovereignty and limits future sanctions against listed Israelis and organizations, the NGO says.
Israel will not tolerate attacks on its troops and will maintain its security zone in Southern Lebanon, the PM said.
The U.S. ambassador said Hezbollah—not Jerusalem—is responsible for preventing a ceasefire from taking hold.
“I felt that I had to contribute more,” police Sgt. 1st Class Alkarnawi, 23, told JNS.
The national security minister called for an overwhelming response following the killing of four IDF soldiers in Lebanon.
It’s “difficult to believe” anyone would look to the P.A. as a viable partner, said Maurice Hirsch, director of the Initiative for Palestinian Authority Accountability and Reform.