Hostage Swap Drama: Hamas Releases Six Israelis Amid Ceasefire Uncertainty

Hamas has freed six Israeli hostages in Gaza, marking the final release of captives under the first phase of a fragile ceasefire agreement.

The exchange included hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Among those freed were Eliya Cohen (27), Omer Shem Tov (22), and Omer Wenkert (23), who were abducted during Hamas’s October 7 attack on the Nova music festival. They were handed over to the Red Cross in Nuseirat before being transferred to Israeli forces.

In separate releases, Tal Shoham (40) and Avera Mengistu (39) were freed in Rafah, while Hisham Al-Sayed (36) was released in Gaza City without ceremony. Mengistu and Al-Sayed had been held by Hamas for years after crossing into Gaza voluntarily.

This marks the final handover of hostages from the original group of 33 slated for release under the ceasefire deal, which began on January 19. However, 63 hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive.

The prisoner swap, involving the release of 602 Palestinian detainees—including 445 Gazans arrested during the war—was overshadowed by international criticism. The United Nations condemned Hamas for “parading” hostages before the release, while Hamas framed the event as an act of Palestinian solidarity.

Meanwhile, tensions persist as the ceasefire remains fragile. A recent misidentification of Shiri Bibas’ body briefly threatened negotiations, but her remains, along with those of her two young sons, were returned late Friday, confirming their deaths.

The war, triggered by Hamas’s deadly October 7 assault, has resulted in mass casualties, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed. As both sides navigate the next phase of negotiations, the prospects for lasting peace remain uncertain.