Hamas releases six hostages while the future of the fragile ceasefire remains in doubt

On Saturday, Hamas released six Gaza prisoners in two public ceremonies and one private transfer, freeing the last live detainees promised to be freed when a truce began last month.  Israel delayed releasing 620 Palestinian captives in exchange owing to security concerns.

First two hostages freed on Saturday, Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38, were given over to Red Cross authorities in Rafah, southern Gaza. Shoham, his two children, wife, and mother-in-law were abducted from kibbutz Be'eri and freed in November 2023.  Ashkelon native Mengistu entered Gaza in 2014.

Later, hundreds, including Hamas militants, gathered in Nuseirat, central Gaza, to give over three captives, Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, in another elaborate ceremony.

An Israeli security source and a Hamas source said the Red Cross in Gaza City took a sixth captive, 37-year-old Arab-Israeli Bedouin from southern Israel who went into Gaza in 2015.

Al-Sayed and Mengistu seem to have major mental illnesses.  Hamas kidnapped them a decade ago and the four others on October 7, 2023.

The six hostages were released on Saturday hours after Hamas returned the remains of Shiri Bibas, the Israeli woman whose young family became a symbol for Gaza captives.  The body Hamas first identified as Bibas was delivered Thursday.  However, Israeli forensic testing proved it was not hers, sparking anger and criticism.

The Palestinian inmates Society expects 620 Palestinian inmates be freed from Israeli imprisonment in exchange, a somewhat larger total than previously reported and the greatest number since the ceasefire pact.

In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urges Israelis to rally at Hostages Square tonight to demand the return of the 63 hostages.

This comes after Hamas released six Israeli hostages today: Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayed, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert.  According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas has freed 192 Israeli hostages, 147 alive and 45 dead.

"The entire nation watched today as Omer, Tal, Eliya, Omer, Hisham, and Avera were returned — their lives saved thanks to the agreement," the organization said in the statement.  "There are still 63 hostages waiting for us to save them!  We won't stop until we see all hostages return — the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial."