Hamas has released six Israeli hostages held in Gaza, bringing the total number of captives released under a fragile ceasefire agreement to 10. However, Israel has yet to release over 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees it had agreed to let go in exchange.
The latest hostages to be freed were Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham Al-Sayed. The releases were made despite mounting criticism from the United Nations, which denounced the “parading of hostages” as a solemn show of Palestinian unity.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement aimed to release six Israeli captives under the condition that Israel would also release Palestinians. However, hours after the hostage exchange, Israel had not yet released the remaining prisoners and detainees.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that his government was committed to bringing all hostages back home, but did not provide an explanation for the delay.
Meanwhile, Hamas has continued to claim that it is acting in accordance with Palestinian unity, despite widespread criticism of its handling of the hostage situation. The organization has also faced accusations of misidentifying the bodies of Israeli victims, including Shiri Bibas and her family.
The fragile truce has brought a pause in the fighting, but prospects of a definitive end to the war remain unclear. Both sides have expressed a willingness to engage in talks on a second stage of the agreement, which aims to agree on the return of all remaining hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The ceasefire has resulted in significant losses for both sides, with Israel’s military campaign killing at least 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. Meanwhile, Gaza remains largely devastated, with hundreds of thousands left homeless and dependent on aid trucks.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-prepares-receive-six-more-gaza-hostages-2025-02-22