Hamas has launched six extra hostages held in Gaza, in change for 602 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in a while Saturday.
The launched hostages included 4 kidnapped throughout the 7 October 2023 Hamas assault on Israel – Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert.
The 2 different males freed, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, have been held in Gaza for years – Mr Mengistu since 2014 and Mr al-Sayed since 2015.
The six are the ultimate hostages nonetheless alive to be returned as a part of the primary section of a ceasefire deal set to finish subsequent Saturday. Israel and Hamas have but to agree the phrases of a second section.
Afterward Saturday, 602 Palestinian prisoners are set to be launched, nearly all of whom have been detained after the 7 October 2023 assault.
The BBC understands these launched will embody 50 prisoners serving life sentences and 60 with excessive sentences, in response to a Palestinian prisoners’ media workplace assertion.
The our bodies of 4 extra hostages are anticipated to be transferred to Israel subsequent week in what is meant to be the ultimate step within the first section of the ceasefire.
There are 59 hostages nonetheless held by Hamas, round half of whom are believed to be alive. Extra are set to be freed within the subsequent section of the three-stage ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which is scheduled to start out on 1 March.
Hamas started releasing hostages, facilitated by the Pink Cross, in change for Palestinian prisoners in January. Preliminary chaotic scenes develop into extra choreographed, with hostages flanked by fighters on levels earlier than the handovers.
Mr Shoham, 40, and Mr Mengistu, 39, have been handed to the Pink Cross in Rafah, south Gaza earlier than being transferred to the Israel Protection Forces (IDF).
Mr Shoham was visiting household at Kibbutz Be’eri in October 2023 when he and others, together with his spouse and two kids, have been kidnapped by Hamas. His captured relations have been launched after 50 days.
In a press release, his household mentioned: “That is an unforgettable second, the place all feelings are quickly mixing collectively. Our Tal is with us.”
Mr Mengistu, who’s Ethiopian-Israeli, had been held by Hamas since September 2014 when he crossed into north Gaza.
Avera Mengistu reunites together with his household [Reuters]
He and Mr al-Sayed, a Bedouin Arab Israeli who entered Gaza in 2015, had each suffered with psychological well being issues previously, in response to their households.
Mr al-Sayed’s launch was carried out privately in Gaza Metropolis on Saturday.
“After almost a decade of preventing for Hisham’s return, the long-awaited second has arrived,” his household mentioned in a press release.
“Throughout nowadays, we want privateness for Hisham and all the household so we are able to start to take care of Hisham and ourselves.”
Hisham al-Sayed strolling with a member of the Pink Cross after his launch [Reuters]
Individually, at Nuseirat in central Gaza, Mr Shem Tov, 22, Mr Cohen, 27, and Mr Wenkert, 23, have been freed in one other public present by Hamas.
All three have been taken captive on the Nova music competition on 7 October 2023.
Mr Shem Tov had initially escaped by automotive when Hamas fighters descended on the competition, however was captured when he went again to rescue his buddies.
Mr Cohen had hid together with his girlfriend, Ziv Abud, in a shelter on the competition, however was found and pushed away. The shelter was bombed, however Ms Abud survived and escaped.
Mr Wenkert managed to ship textual content messages to his household when festival-goers have been being attacked, to inform them he was going to a protected shelter, however they misplaced contact with him.
Omer Shem Tov returned to Petah Tikva, Israel, on Saturday [Reuters]
Eliya Cohen wore a “grateful” hat after he was launched [Reuters]
Crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Sq. greeted the general public releases with cheers as they watched them unfold on a reside feed.
Members of the family and supporters of Omer Wenkert reacted to his launch [Reuters]
Households celebrating the return of the six males referred to as for all remaining hostages to be launched.
“Our solely request is to grab this window of alternative to safe a deal that may… return all hostages house,” Mr Shoham’s household mentioned.
Remaining hostages embody Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier captured on 7 October.
His mom, Yael Alexander, who was watching Saturday’s hostage launch, informed the BBC it was “superb” to see them freed, however for her household it’s “very robust” ready.
“There are greater than dozens of younger males alive, like my son, nonetheless ready to be launched,” she mentioned. “That is the primary purpose, to launch the reside individuals now from Gaza.”
Saturday’s joyful scenes contrasted with earlier this week, when the our bodies of hostages Shiri Bibas, her two younger sons and one other captive Oded Lifschitz have been returned to Israel.
