Hamas released six Israeli hostages in Gaza on Saturday, marking the final group of living captives to be freed under the first phase of a ceasefire deal, according to Reuters.
However, Israel has not yet released over 600 Palestinian prisoners it promised to free in exchange. The delay has raised questions, but the Israeli prime minister’s office has not explained the reason.
The hostages, including three young men taken from a music festival during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, were handed over to the Red Cross in central Gaza.
Reuters reports that the hostages appeared thin and pale during a public ceremony, which has drawn criticism from the United Nations for “parading” the captives.
Hamas defended the event, calling it a show of Palestinian unity. A sixth hostage, an Arab citizen of Israel, was later released without a public ceremony.
The released hostages were reunited with their families, bringing emotional scenes of relief and joy. For example, Omer Shem Tov hugged his parents tightly, saying, “How I dreamt of this,” in a video shared by the Israeli military.
Tal Shoham, another freed hostage, smiled and waved to friends outside the hospital where he was taken. His friend Yael Avner said, “It’s a great relief just to see him there, himself just coming back home.”
However, not all families are celebrating. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is still held captive, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying the release of all hostages to please his government allies who want to resume fighting.
Netanyahu has stated that Israel is committed to bringing all hostages home.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those arrested during the recent war and others serving long sentences for past attacks.
Reuters notes that the ceasefire remains fragile, with both sides accusing each other of wrongdoing.
For instance, Hamas claims the Bibas family, including a mother and her two young sons, were killed by an Israeli airstrike, while Israel says they were deliberately killed by their captors.
The war, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023, has caused immense suffering. Over 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israel.
In Gaza, Palestinian health authorities report at least 48,000 deaths, with much of the region destroyed and thousands left homeless.
Reuters highlights that while the ceasefire has paused the fighting, the future remains uncertain. Hamas insists it still controls Gaza despite heavy losses, while Israel vows to destroy the group.
Both sides are expected to begin talks on a second phase of the ceasefire, aiming to secure the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
This ongoing conflict underscores the deep tensions and challenges in achieving lasting peace.
Credit : Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-prepares-receive-six-more-gaza-hostages-2025-02-22