Hamas on Saturday released the last six living hostages expected under the primary phase of its ceasefire with Israel with per week remaining, as growing questions over the subsequent phase clouded the delicate deal ‘s future.
The hostages included three Israeli men seized from the Nova music festival and one other taken while visiting family in southern Israel when Hamas-led militants stormed the border within the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered Israel’s 16-month military campaign in Gaza. The 2 other hostages were held for a decade after entering Gaza on their very own.
Five were handed over in staged ceremonies that the Red Cross and Israel have condemned as cruel and disrespectful, escorted by masked, armed Hamas fighters in front of a whole bunch of Palestinians.
Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen were posed alongside Hamas fighters. A beaming Shem Tov kissed two militants on the pinnacle and blew kisses to the gang.
Cohen’s family and friends in Israel chanted “Eliya! Eliya! Eliya!” and cheered.
“You’re heroes,” Shem Tov told his parents as they later embraced, laughing and crying. “You’ve got no idea how much I dreamt of you.”
Earlier Saturday, Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38, were freed. Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, entered Gaza in 2014. His family told Israeli media he has struggled with mental health issues.
Later, Israel’s military said Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, was released. The Bedouin Israeli entered Gaza in 2015. His family has told Israeli media he was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The discharge of over 600 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel — the biggest one-day prisoner release within the ceasefire’s first phase — was delayed, apparently for Israeli security consultations on Saturday evening.
The hostage release followed a heartrending dispute sparked when Hamas on Thursday handed over the unsuitable body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother abducted together with her two young boys. The stays were determined to be those of a Palestinian woman.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge for “a cruel and malicious violation,” while Hamas suggested it was a mistake.
On Friday, the small militant group believed to have been holding Bibas and her sons — the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades — handed over a body that Bibas’ family said Israeli forensic authorities confirmed was hers.
“Now that it’s here, it brings no comfort, though we hope it marks the start of closure,” the family said.
Hamas on Saturday denied Israeli claims it was chargeable for the Bibas children’s deaths, calling them lies geared toward justifying Israeli military actions against civilians in Gaza.
Difficult talks likely over the ceasefire’s next phase
The ceasefire deal has paused the deadliest and most devastating fighting ever between Israel and Hamas, but there are fears the war will resume after the primary phase ends.
Hamas has said it is going to release 4 bodies next week, completing the primary phase. After that, Hamas will hold about 60 hostages — about half believed to be alive.
Talks on the ceasefire’s second phase are yet to start out, but negotiations are prone to be tougher.
Hamas has said it won’t release the remaining captives and not using a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu, with the complete backing of the Trump administration, says he’s committed to destroying Hamas’ military and governing capacities and returning all hostages, goals widely seen as mutually exclusive.
An Israeli official said Netanyahu would meet with security advisers on Saturday evening in regards to the ceasefire’s future. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity since the meeting had not been formally announced, said discussions would focus “on the goal of returning all our hostages, alive and dead.”
Freed hostages bring relief and an indication of life
Cohen, Shem Tov and Wenkert were brought out wearing fake army uniforms, though they weren’t soldiers when abducted.
“That is an unforgettable moment, where all emotions are rapidly mixing together,” Shoham’s family said, calling for a deal to free all still held. “There’s a window of opportunity; we must not miss it.”
Shoham, who also holds Austrian citizenship, was visiting his family in Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas militants stormed in. His wife and two young children were freed in a November 2023 exchange.
Mengistu’s family and friends broke out in song as they saw him for the primary time in a decade.
“Do you remember me?” one brother asked as they embraced.
Niva Wenkert, Omer’s mother, told Israel’s Channel 12 that “on the surface, he looks OK, but there’s no telling what’s inside.”
As concerns grew over the remaining hostages, Ilan Gilboa Dalal, the daddy of captive Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan the family had received the primary sign of life in eight months from a newly freed hostage who had been held with him.
A whole lot of Palestinian prisoners set for release
The 620 Palestinian prisoners to be freed include 151 who were serving life or other sentences for violent attacks against Israelis. Almost 100 will probably be deported, in response to the Palestinian prisoners’ media office.
A Palestinian prisoner rights association said they include Nael Barghouti, who spent over 45 years in prison for an attack that killed an Israeli bus driver.
Also being released are 445 men; 18 children aged 15 to 17, and five aged 18 to 19; and a girl, all seized by Israeli troops in Gaza at no cost in the course of the war.
Israel’s military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and kids, in response to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed greater than 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
The offensive destroyed vast areas of Gaza, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble. At its height, the war displaced 90% of Gaza’s population. Many have returned to their homes to search out nothing left and no way of rebuilding.
The Oct. 7 attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. A whole lot of Israeli soldiers have died within the war.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Jahjouh from Rafah. Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Abdel-Kareem Hana in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip; and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
