In a significant development under the ongoing ceasefire agreement, Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday, marking the last group of captives to be freed under the initial phase of the truce. The releases come as part of an exchange deal that saw hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed from Israeli jails.
Among those released were Eliya Cohen (27), Omer Shem Tov (22), and Omer Wenkert (23), who were abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. The three men were handed over to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza, before being transferred to Israeli forces. Their release was marked by a public ceremony, where masked Hamas militants stood guard as the hostages were made to wave to a gathered crowd.
Tal Shoham (40) and Avera Mengistu (39) were also freed earlier in Rafah, southern Gaza. Later, Hamas handed over Hisham Al-Sayed (36) in Gaza City without a public ceremony. Al-Sayed and Mengistu had been in Hamas captivity for nearly a decade after entering Gaza voluntarily, while Shoham had been abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri along with his family, who were released during a brief truce in November 2023.
Emotional Reunions and Public Response
The release of the six hostages was met with emotional reunions in Israel. In a video distributed by the Israeli military, Shem Tov was seen embracing his parents, laughing and crying, saying, “How I dreamt of this.” Meanwhile, Shoham smiled and waved as he greeted friends outside the hospital where he was taken for medical evaluation.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered in Hostages Square, lighting candles and holding photographs of captives, including members of the Bibas family, whose bodies were returned earlier this week.
Prisoner Exchange and Ceasefire Uncertainty
In exchange for the hostages, Israel is expected to release 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Among them are 445 Gazans detained during the ongoing conflict, as well as individuals convicted of attacks that killed dozens of Israelis during the Palestinian uprising two decades ago.
Despite the temporary pause in hostilities, tensions remain high. The fragile ceasefire was nearly derailed when the body of Shiri Bibas, initially misidentified, was handed over by Hamas on Thursday. On Friday, the group returned another body, confirmed by Israel’s Institute of Forensic Medicine to be hers.
The Israeli military has since accused Hamas of deliberately killing Bibas’ two young sons, 10-month-old Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, calling their deaths an act of “cold-blooded murder.” Hamas, however, claims the family was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Future of the Ceasefire Deal
While the first phase of the truce has concluded, 63 more hostages remain in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive. Both Israel and Hamas have expressed intentions to engage in negotiations for the next stage, which could involve the release of all remaining captives and a potential withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The war, triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack, has resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel’s military campaign has devastated Gaza, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 48,000 casualties and large parts of the enclave reduced to rubble.
