Hamas began to publish more Israeli hostages on Saturday, putting five to the Red Cross in two separate ceremonies in Gaza. Israel is expected to release around 600 Palestinian detainees in return.
Earlier, Hamas gave the remains of Shiri Bibas, the Israeli mother whose capture with her two young sons during the attack on October 7, 2023 became a symbol of the anxiety of Israel. Hamas delivered a body on Thursday that he initially said that of Ms. Bibas. But the tests in Israel found that it was not his, angry with the Israelis and by putting pressure on Hamas to put the right remains.
The first two hostages released on Saturday were Avera Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian origin who entered Gaza on his own goalkeeper in 2014 and had been held there since; And Tal Shoham, who was seized of Kibbutz Be’eri during the assault led by Hamas in 2023 against Israel. After their release in the southern city of Rafah, the Israeli army said that the two men had crossed in Israel and received medical assessments.
Three other Israelis were given to the Red Cross in Nuseirat in the center of Gaza: Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert and Eliya Cohen. A sixth hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed, should also be released on Saturday.
Hamas said it would release these hostages in exchange for the liberation of Israel by more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, the largest group of prisoners released since the start of Gaza in late January. But the two parties failed to achieve an agreement on the next stage of the truce, which raises fears that the fights can soon resume.
Israel and Hamas are approaching the end of the first phase of the six -week break, which is expected to expire in early March. As part of the agreement, Hamas is committed to the first step to release at least 25 living Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for more than 1,500 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The transfer of the 25 living hostages will be complete with the release of Saturday of the six hostages.
Despite the pressure of the Trump administration and the mediators such as Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas did not understand the terms to extend the agreement to a second phase. This would lead to the end of the war and the release of the 30 remaining hostages that would be alive in Gaza in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.
The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza was looking forward to the return of their loved ones. Inmates include 50 perpetuity sentences for participation in deadly attacks against the Israelis. But there will also be more than 400 people prisoner in Gaza, who were generally detained without official accusations.
The final exchange of the six-week break should take place next weekend, when Hamas is expected to return at least four bodies to Israel.
