Hamas Releases Six Hostages in Ceasefire Phase, Exchanging for 600 Palestinian Prisoners

Hamas Releases Six Hostages in First Ceasefire Phase

In a dramatic development, Hamas has released six hostages as part of the first phase of its ceasefire agreement with Israel. The exchange saw the release of the six captives in return for over 600 Palestinian prisoners.

Details of the Exchange

The six hostages freed include three Israeli men who were captured during the Nova music festival and another individual who was abducted while visiting family in southern Israel during the October 7, 2023 attack. That attack, led by Hamas militants, sparked Israel’s 16-month bombing campaign in Gaza.

Additionally, two other hostages, who had been held for around a decade after entering Gaza on their own, were also part of this exchange. The hostages were released in a series of staged ceremonies, with five of the captives escorted by masked and armed Hamas fighters in front of hundreds of Palestinians. These ceremonies, however, have drawn criticism from both the Red Cross and Israeli officials for being disrespectful.

Emotional and Controversial Reactions

Images from the ceremonies showed freed hostages, including Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen, posing alongside Hamas fighters. One particularly emotional moment was captured when Omer Shem Tov was seen kissing two militants on the head and blowing kisses to the crowd.

Shortly after the ceremony, two additional hostages—Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38—were released and transported to Israeli medical centers for examination. Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli who ventured into Gaza on his own in 2014, has reportedly struggled with mental health issues. Later, the final hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, a Bedouin Israeli who entered Gaza independently in 2015 and has been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, was also released.

The Broader Context

This exchange marks the largest one-day prisoner swap in the first phase of the ceasefire. Over 600 Palestinian prisoners were handed over in return for these hostages, underscoring the scale of this deal. The ceasefire has so far paused the deadliest fighting between Israel and Hamas, though concerns remain that the conflict could resume once the first phase concludes next week.

Hamas has announced that it will release four more bodies next week to complete the first phase of the ceasefire. However, negotiations for the second phase have yet to begin. Approximately 60 hostages, with only half believed to be alive, remain unaccounted for, and their release is expected to be a key condition in future negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire and an eventual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Stay updated with The Horizons Times for the latest developments on this evolving story and other breaking news from the region.