Hamas releases three Israeli hostages in fifth exchange under Gaza ceasefire
Palestininas gather around a stage being prepared ahead of the hand over to the Red Cross of three Israeli hostages by Hamas as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Saturday Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Mohammad Abu Samra)
In the latest hostage exchange under the fragile Gaza ceasefire, Hamas has released three Israeli captives on Saturday, marking the fifth round of swaps since the truce began.
However, Israel condemned the manner of their release, describing it as “cruel” and raising concerns over their frail condition.
Simultaneously, Israel’s prison service confirmed the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal.
The latest exchange follows remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who proposed that the U.S. should take over Gaza and relocate its inhabitants, a suggestion that has triggered widespread international condemnation.
The three hostages, Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi, were among those abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which led to the ongoing 15-month conflict.
Live footage captured their release in Deir El-Balah, where they were flanked by masked gunmen before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Jubilant scenes erupted in Tel Aviv as Israelis watched the footage, but joy quickly turned to alarm over the hostages’ malnourishment.
The hostage release coincides with continued diplomatic efforts to extend the ceasefire.
The deal, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, aims to secure the release of 11 more hostages in its initial 42-day phase. So far, 21 hostages have been freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
Negotiations for the next phase, which seeks to secure additional hostage releases and potentially bring a permanent end to hostilities, were set to begin on Monday.
Following Saturday’s exchange, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that an Israeli delegation would travel to Doha for further talks.
Israel’s retaliatory military operations in Gaza have resulted in the killing of at least 47,583, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The United Nations has deemed these casualty figures reliable, underscoring the war’s devastating humanitarian toll.
