The Palestinian extremist group Hamas released six more hostages on Saturday, in which hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were set to release from Israeli jails under a delicate ceasefire deal.
Six hostages were converted into red crosses in different parts of Gaza, with 40 -year -old Tal Shoham and 39 -year -old long -term captive Evere Mengistu, Rafah city for the first time.
Omar Shem-Tow, Alia Cohen and Omar Venkart, all handed over to the Red Cross representatives in their 20s, then at the Nuserat refugee camp in Central Gaza.
Both masked and armed Hamas fighters were present at handover ceremonies, which were broadcast live on television in Israel and Arabia.
The hostages were clearly stated that they had gathered among the buildings ruined during the war over 16 months.
A red cross representative was forced to sign the handover documents on the stage in both cases as the music was played loudly.
The last hostage on Saturday was freed, 36, Hishm al-Sed, who was released in Gaza City after about 10 years in captivity.
According to broadcaster Al Jazira, Hamas decided not to show his handover as it is one Arab Israeli.
According to Palestinian information, in exchange for the release of men, Israel is ready to free 602 Palestinian prisoners, including 50 life sentences.
Two free after a decade in captivity
Al-Sed and Ethiopian-Janme Mengistu was kept by Hamas for about 10 years, when they voluntarily crossed the border in the Gaza Strip in 2015 and 2014 respectively.
Hamas released the recording of both during captivity, in which Al-Sed was lying in a bed with an oxygen mask in 2022. Images caused resentment in Israel.
According to Israeli sources, both men are dealing with psychological issues.
The other four people were abducted by Hamas and other extremist groups on 7 October 2023 during their unprecedented massacre in southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths. More than 250 people were taken hostage that day.
According to the Hamas-controlled Health Authority, more than 48,300 Palestinians have died in the war.
Shem -Tov, Kohen and Venkart – 22, 27 and 23, respectively – were abducted at the Nova Music Festival near Gaza Border, while Shohm, who also holds Austrian citizenship, seized it from nearby Berry Kibutz Was gone, by then seized. Relatives there.
Hamas had released three of the first six hostages compared to employed, as they were originally due to being freed at the end of next week as per the ceasefire agreement.
The militia wanted to ensure that the release of dozens of high -ranked members from Israeli jails did not fail at the last minute, the media reported.
Shiri Bibas’s body returned to Israel
Earlier on Saturday, Nir Oz Kibbutz confirmed the identity of Shiri Bibas, whose body was given to Red Cross late Friday.
“Kibutz announced with deep pain that he was murdered while being hostage in Gaza,” said a spokesman.
Hamas replaced the bodies of 32-year-old German-Israeli female sons, aerial and kefir-who were only 4 years old and were 9 months old when they were kidnapped-with a prisoner, 84-year-old Shanti activist Oded Lifestos , On Thursday.
However, Israeli forensic experts later determined that the remains in the fourth coffin were not related to Shiri Bibas as Hamas had initially claimed.
The militia later accepted a possible mistake, resulting in another, unknown woman. Mix -up – whether intentionally or casual – Israel is very angry.
Second phase uncertain
Hamas is ready to hand over the bodies of four more Israeli hostages next week, in the final stages of the ceasefire agreement.
The multi-stage ceasefire agreement determines that during the first six-week phase, a total of 33 hostages will gradually be released in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners.
Since the onset of the ceasefire in the Gaza war on January 19, Hamas has released 25 hostages in several rounds, as well as four bodies, including Bibas and his two young sons. In addition, five Thai citizens kidnapped from Israel were independently released by agreement.
According to reports, originally, according to the plan, neither has any serious conversation in the second phase of the agreement.
The second phase of the agreement should lead to a certain end and release of the remaining hostages for the war, but it is not clear that it can actually be implemented.
Hamas has made a comprehensive exchange of his interest in an agreement in the second phase and the remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners, on the condition of a permanent ceasefire and on the full return of Israeli soldiers from the Gaza Strip.
However, Israel is emphasizing its war objective of completely destroying Hamas. More than 60 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, about half of which is no longer considered alive.
Al-Kasam Brigade, Hamas’s military wing, starts the ceremony, during which they are handing two Israeli hostage Tal Shoham and average Mengistu to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of the ceasefire deal. Abed Rahim Khatib/DPA
The al-Kasam Brigade, Hamas’s military wing, handed over one of the two to the Israeli hostages, which is part of the ceasefire deal as Avera Mengistu to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Abed Rahim Khatib/DPA
