Hamas releases more hostages in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of ceasefire deal

Hamas released two hostages on Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Israel. Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39, were handed over to the Red Cross in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners. The men appeared frail and scared as they were brought before a crowd by masked gunmen. They were on their way to IDF forces for further evaluation.

Four more hostages – Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, Hisham Al-Sayed, and Eliya Cohen – were also expected to be released later on Saturday. Mengistu and Al-Sayed had been held captive for over a decade after entering Gaza on their own, long before the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The ceasefire agreement, which was reached a month ago, has managed to hold despite some setbacks. Recently, the body of hostage Shiri Bibas was not returned to Israel as promised by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Hamas would “pay the full price” for this breach of the agreement.

Hamas claimed that they mistakenly handed over the body of a Palestinian woman from Gaza instead of Shiri Bibas. However, they later confirmed that Bibas’ remains had been transferred to Israeli authorities through the Red Cross. Bibas’ family identified her body, bringing closure to the tragic situation.

In response to the mishap, Hamas stated that they had no intention of withholding any bodies in their possession. They explained that the bodies handed over earlier had been killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2023 and might have been misidentified due to the chaotic circumstances.

The Israeli military alleged that Hamas had killed Ariel and Kfir Bibas, the sons of Shiri Bibas, with their bare hands. They also claimed that Oded Lifshitz was killed by his captors inside Gaza. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that forensic analysis revealed evidence of the brutal killings, accusing Hamas of committing horrific acts to cover up the atrocities.

Despite these challenges, the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel remains intact. The release of hostages and prisoners marks a significant step towards peace in the region. The situation continues to evolve, with both sides working towards a lasting resolution to the conflict.