Hamas Releases Five Hostages in Final Ceasefire Exchange, Israel to Free 600 Palestinian Detainees
In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict, Hamas has released five out of six hostages as part of the final stage of the prisoner exchange agreement with Israel. The transfer took place on Saturday under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In return, Israel is set to release approximately 600 Palestinian detainees.
Hostage Exchange in Gaza
The five freed individuals include Eliya Cohen (27), Omer Shem Tov (22), and Omer Wenkert (23), who were taken hostage from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack. The two others, Tal Shoham (40) and Avera Mengistu (38), were held captive for varying durations, with Mengistu having crossed into Gaza voluntarily in 2014.
Thousands gathered in Nuseirat, central Gaza, as Hamas formally handed over the three young men to the Red Cross. The exchange was a highly choreographed event, with banners and children wearing shirts featuring images of Hamas leaders killed in the conflict. The hostages, though appearing thin, seemed to be in better condition than some previously released captives. One of them, Shem Tov, was seen engaging briefly with Hamas members and blew a kiss toward the crowd before leaving.
At a separate location in Rafah, Shoham and Mengistu were handed over before being escorted into Israel by the military. However, another hostage, Hisham al-Sayed (37), an Arab-Israeli from a Bedouin community who walked into Gaza in 2015, was expected to be released at Nuseirat but was later scheduled to be handed over in Gaza City due to severe health concerns.
Palestinian Prisoner Release Details
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Office confirmed the list of detainees set to be freed by Israel. Among them, 50 had been serving life sentences, 60 were sentenced to long prison terms, and 445 were arrested from Gaza following the October 7 conflict. The release of these detainees is part of the agreement brokered in Qatar that facilitated the ceasefire between the two sides.
Reaction from Israeli Leadership
Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the nation following the hostage exchange, stating, “The completion of a hostage deal is a humanitarian, moral, and Jewish imperative.” He further emphasized that the freed individuals would now begin their recovery alongside their families, who had fought tirelessly for their return.
Despite the positive steps in the exchange process, tensions escalated after Hamas initially handed over the wrong body in a previous transfer. The remains of hostage Shiri Bibas were expected to be among those returned on Thursday, but forensic tests in Israel confirmed a mismatch. Following international pressure, Hamas turned over her remains on Friday, which were subsequently identified in Tel Aviv.
Remaining Hostages and Future Negotiations
Following Saturday’s exchange, 63 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli officials estimating that at least 32 of them are no longer alive. The fate of the remaining captives has become a critical issue in ongoing indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
According to sources close to the discussions, Hamas has proposed releasing all remaining hostages, both alive and deceased, in a single exchange. However, they demand a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in return. This condition has posed a major challenge in the negotiations, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained firm on his stance that Hamas must be neutralized before any withdrawal can be considered.
Ceasefire Talks and the Road Ahead
The talks, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, have faced delays, but efforts continue to extend the ceasefire and reach a long-term agreement. As both sides weigh their options, international mediators stress that securing the safe return of hostages and ensuring humanitarian relief for Gaza remains a priority.
With the latest exchange marking the conclusion of the first phase of the deal, all eyes are now on the next round of negotiations, which will determine whether the ceasefire will hold or if hostilities will resume.
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