JERUSALEM – In a significant development, Hamas militants released six hostages from Gaza on Saturday in a swap for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The release follows Israel’s confirmation that a body handed over earlier in the day belonged to hostage Shiri Bibas.
Among the freed were Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, who were captured during the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross for transport back to Israeli authorities.
A crowd gathered to witness the handover, where masked militants provided security and hostages appeared visibly weak as they waved to onlookers from the stage.
Additionally, Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39, were released in Rafah, southern Gaza, while the sixth hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, was freed in Gaza City and later confirmed in Israeli custody.
Al-Sayed and Mengistu had been held by Hamas for nearly a decade, while Shoham was taken from Kibbutz Be’eri with his family, who were released during a brief truce in November 2023.
These six individuals represent the last of 33 hostages expected to be released during the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement that started on January 19. Approximately 60 more hostages remain in Gaza, with less than half believed to still be alive.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered in the rain at Hostages Square. Some lit candles in memory of the Bibas family, whose remains were returned this week, while others celebrated the hostages’ release as it was broadcasted on a large screen.
Among the crowd was a mother whose son was abducted during the October attack. “This gives me hope that our son will be next,” she expressed.
The handover ceremonies, which have included public displays of hostages, have drawn criticism, including from the United Nations, for the “parading of hostages.” Hamas, however, defended the ceremonies as demonstrations of Palestinian unity.
In exchange for the released hostages, Israel is set to release 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This latest stage of the ceasefire deal will encompass 445 Gazans detained during the conflict as well as numerous long-sentence convicts, per Hamas’s statement.
Tragic Return
The recent truce faced challenges due to the misidentification of a body released earlier as that of Shiri Bibas, who was taken captive along with her young sons. On Friday, a second body, confirmed to be hers, was returned to her family.
The loss of the Bibas family has symbolized the deep trauma experienced in Israel during the ongoing conflict. Her husband, Yarden, was released separately on February 1, while forensic investigations revealed the tragic details surrounding the deaths of their children.
Hamas claims that the Bibas family died due to an Israeli airstrike; however, Israeli military intelligence has stated that the children were deliberately killed by their captors, notably intensifying the ongoing tensions.
Future Uncertainty
While the ceasefire has temporarily halted combat, the path to a lasting peace remains uncertain. Hamas, demonstrating its hold in Gaza amid severe losses, sparked the conflict by attacking Israeli communities, resulting in significant casualties and hostage situations.
The conflict has claimed at least 48,000 lives according to Palestinian health authorities, devastating the Gaza Strip and leaving many without shelter or basic needs. Discussions for a second stage of negotiations are expected to focus on securing the release of remaining hostages and addressing the status of Israeli military presence in the region.
