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Hamas on Saturday released six Israeli hostages at different locations across the Gaza Strip, including Rafah in the south and the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The freed hostages are:
- Eliya Cohen
- Omer Shem Tov
- Omer Wenkert
- Hisham Al-Sayed
- Tal Shoham
- Averu Mengistu
Hostage Release Details
Tal Shoham and Averu Mengistu were the first to be handed over to the Red Cross after being paraded on stage before transfer.
Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen were also escorted by armed Hamas fighters and presented before hundreds of Palestinians in Nuseirat before being transferred.
The last hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed (36), was released later in the day, as confirmed by Israeli officials and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
A convoy carrying the freed hostages has now left the ceremony, and the hostages are in military custody in the Gaza Strip.
Israel to Release 600 Palestinian Prisoners
As part of the ongoing negotiations, Israel is set to release 600 Palestinian prisoners who were detained from Gaza since October 7.
Controversy Over Shiri Bibas' Body Return
Earlier in the day, Hamas handed over the body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas. However, forensic tests revealed that the remains did not belong to Bibas but were instead those of an unidentified Palestinian woman.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned Hamas, stating:
"In an unspeakably cynical way, they did not return Shiri to her little children, the little angels, and instead put the body of a Gazan woman in a coffin. We will act with determination to bring Shiri home, along with all our hostages—both living and dead—and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and vicious violation of the agreement."
The hostage release marks another significant development in the Israel-Gaza conflict, as tensions continue to rise over ongoing negotiations and humanitarian concerns.
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