The first two released individuals are 40-year-old Tal Shoham, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, in the Be'eri kibbutz, and 38-year-old Averav Mengistu, an Israeli citizen from Ashkelon who crossed into Gaza in 2014.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, they were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and later crossed the border into Israel.
Three more hostages – Elia Cohen (27 years old), Omer Shem-Tov (22 years old), and Omer Venker (23 years old) – were transferred in central Gaza, in the Nuseirat area. The transfer occurred in the presence of large crowds, including Hamas militants.
The released individuals appeared exhausted but generally in better condition than some of the previously released hostages. Omer Shem-Tov even exchanged a few words with the militants on stage and blew a kiss to the crowd.
Another hostage, 37-year-old Hisham al-Sayed, from the Bedouin community in southern Israel, who crossed into Gaza in 2015, is expected to be released elsewhere. Reports indicate that both al-Sayed and Mengistu suffer from severe mental health issues.
Exchange for Palestinian Prisoners
On Friday, February 21, Hamas announced that it expects the release of 602 Palestinian prisoners in response to the handover of hostages.
Among them:
- 50 individuals sentenced to life imprisonment;
- 60 individuals with lengthy sentences;
- 445 individuals detained in Gaza after October 7, 2023, and held without charges.
How many hostages are still in Gaza?
After the Saturday exchange, Hamas and its allies continue to hold 63 Israeli hostages.
According to the Israeli government, at least 32 of them are already deceased. Among the deceased is Israeli soldier Hadara Goldin, who was captured in Gaza back in 2014.
If Hamas hands over the bodies of four more hostages within the next week, the first phase of the exchange will be completed.
Will the ceasefire be extended?
Israel and Hamas are engaged in indirect negotiations regarding the extension of the ceasefire, although the process has started with a two-week delay.
Hamas indicated on Saturday that it is prepared to hand over all remaining hostages – both alive and deceased – in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip as part of the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Previously, “Kursiv” reported that Hamas is willing to transfer control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian National Authority.