(NewsNation) – Hamas has released a total of 41 hostages as part of a four-day ceasefire agreement after they were kidnapped and held in Gaza over the past 50 days.

On Friday, Hamas released 24 hostagesincluding 13 Israelis, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, according to a Qatari foreign ministry spokesman.

Hamas released a second group of hostages – 13 Israeli citizens and four foreigners – on Saturday evening after hours of delay.

Hamas delayed publication after Israel was accused of failing to abide by the agreed terms of the deal regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip and Palestinian prisoners.

Qatar later announced that the “obstacles” had been overcome through mediation and the release of the hostages was resuming.

The celebrations were not one-sided, as 39 Palestinian prisoners, including 15 teenagers and 24 women, returned home to a hero’s welcome in the West Bank on Friday.

The result was the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for a four-day ceasefire Weeks of negotiationsUnder the deal brokered by Qatar and Egypt with US help, Hamas is expected to release a total of 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons under the agreement.

Israel has said the ceasefire can be extended for another day for every 10 more hostages released, but has vowed to quickly resume its offensive and achieve its goals of repatriating all hostages and destroying Hamas’s military and governance capabilities.

hostages published on Friday, November 24th

Ohad Munder, a nine-year-old Israeli who spent his birthday in captivity, was one of four children released. The happy reunion took place after almost 50 days without contact.

Gilat Livni, director of pediatrics at Schneider Children’s Medical Center, described the heartwarming scene, saying, “The hugs and the crying. It was very, very exciting for all of us.”

Livni added that the children were in relatively good health and chose to stay at the medical center for a few more days due to the supportive atmosphere.

In a touching moment captured on video, the boy’s mother and grandmother welcomed him back while his grandfather remains in captivity.

Four-year-old Raz Asher, pictured in her father’s arms, returned to Israel on Saturday evening.

Margalit Mozes, another released Israeli hostage, was seen leaving with an Israeli soldier shortly after her arrival.

Former Palestinian prisoner Nurhan Awad, who was 17 when she was sentenced to 13½ years in prison in 2016 for attempting to stab an Israeli soldier with scissors, was also released.

Marah Bakir, another Palestinian prisoner, was warmly welcomed to her family home in East Jerusalem.

Among the Thai hostages was 33-year-old Vetoon Phoome, a farm worker whose family had feared his death.

hostages published on Saturday November 2nd5

Tanya Noury ​​of NewsNation and The Associated Press contributed to this report.