On Saturday, Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza, bringing relief after a tense ceasefire period. Among those freed were Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who had been held since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Both men were described by their families as mentally ill and had entered Gaza by mistake.
Also released were Tal Shoham, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert. These four had been captured during the October 7 attacks on Israel while attending a music festival or living in kibbutzim near the border.
The hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in distinct and staged ceremonies in Rafah and Nuseirat. They appeared weak and tired after spending over 500 days in captivity but seemed to be in better shape than some who were released earlier this month.
During their release, armed Hamas fighters presented the men to cheering crowds, despite calls from the Red Cross for a more private handover. The Israeli military confirmed that all six were safely back in Israel.
In return for the hostages, Israel agreed to release 602 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are held without charges. However, reports suggest delays in this transfer due to ongoing security consultations.
With this latest exchange, Hamas has freed a total of 29 hostages, four of whom were deceased, in exchange for over 1,600 Palestinian prisoners. This dynamic boosts Hamas’s political standing among Palestinians, despite the severe impact of their actions in Israel.
The six hostages are the last living ones to be exchanged before the first phase of the ceasefire concludes. The next phase could bring about a more permanent end to 15 months of conflict, although negotiations are still in their early stages. This new phase might involve the release of about 60 remaining hostages, including male soldiers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from his right-wing coalition, which opposes a long-term truce and wants military actions against Hamas to resume. The ceasefire has been at risk, with the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar intervening to maintain it, as tensions rose over humanitarian aid issues.
Recent events include Hamas mistakenly releasing the wrong body of a deceased Israeli mother, Shiri Bibas, before correctly identifying her later. The plight of Shiri’s children, who were also captured, has become a painful symbol of the violence and tragedy of this ongoing conflict.
According to Israeli military reports, the two boys were killed by Hamas, contradicting past claims. In total, Hamas’s assault on October 7 resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 Israelis and around 250 hostages taken. The military’s retaliation has led to significant casualties in Gaza, where nearly 50,000 Palestinians have reportedly died, leading to a catastrophic humanitarian situation for its 2.3 million residents.
