Israel-Gaza: The hostage and prisoner release explained

By Monday morning, more than fifty hostages held in Gaza had been released as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas. The deal, which includes a four-day pause in fighting, came seven weeks after the 7 October attacks on Israel. In exchange, more than a hundred Palestinian women and teenagers have been released from Israeli jails.

In this episode, the BBC’s Shaina Oppenheimer in Jerusalem and Jaidaa Taha in Cairo talk us through the detail.

We also hear from Tossapol Chaisamritpol, a BBC reporter in Bangkok, who has been speaking to relatives of Thai hostages who have also been released.

Plus, Frances Mao explains why New Zealand’s new government has made a U-turn on the country’s pioneering smoking ban.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenters: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Mora Morrison Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks