Live Updates: Hamas Is Set to Release More Hostages From Gaza
Hamas began releasing more Israeli hostages on Saturday, handing over five to the Red Cross in two separate ceremonies in Gaza. Israel is set to free about 600 Palestinian detainees in return.
Earlier, Hamas handed over the remains of Shiri Bibas, the Israeli mother whose capture with her two young sons during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack became a symbol of Israel’s anguish. Hamas delivered a body on Thursday that it initially said was that of Ms. Bibas. But testing in Israel found that it was not hers, angering Israelis and putting pressure on Hamas to hand over the correct remains.
The first two hostages freed on Saturday, Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham, were handed over in the southern city of Rafah. The Israeli military said the two men had crossed into Israel and would receive medical assessments.
Three more Israelis were turned over to the Red Cross in Nuseirat in central Gaza and were on their way to Israel: Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert and Eliya Cohen. A sixth hostage, Hisham al-Sayed, is also set to be released on Saturday.
Hamas has said it would free those hostages in exchange for Israel’s release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, the largest group of detainees freed at once since the cease-fire in Gaza began in late January. But the two sides have failed to reach an agreement on the next stage of the truce, raising fears that the fighting could soon resume.
Israel and Hamas are nearing the end of the first phase of the six-week truce, which is set to expire in early March. Under the deal, Hamas committed in the first stage to freeing at least 25 living Israeli hostages and the remains of eight more in exchange for more than 1,500 Palestinians jailed by Israel. The handover of all 25 living hostages will be complete with Saturday’s release of the six hostages.
Despite pressure from the Trump administration and mediators like Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have failed to agree on terms to extend the agreement into a second phase. That would entail an end to the war and the release of the roughly 30 remaining hostages believed to be alive in Gaza in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza were eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones. The detainees include 50 serving life sentences for involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis. But there will also be more than 400 people taken prisoner in Gaza, who were generally held without formal charges.
The final swap in the six-week truce is set to take place next weekend, when Hamas is expected to return at least four bodies to Israel.