Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday, where the last neighborhood prisoner to be released in the first stage of a fragile ceasefire. The truce was already charged this week when the armed group initially returned to the Israeli hostage, which was revealed by the test as another person.
Early on Sunday, Israel announced that it would continue to delay the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners who pledged to liberate on Saturday, demanding the release of Hamas for the first time from prisoners from Gaza and commitment to their issuance without “humiliation celebrations.” Hamas calls hostages in the performance celebrations that aim to show that it is still controlling Gaza, which was conducted by many Israeli officials.
The announcement, which was delivered in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office hours after the release of the prisoners ’release already without explanation, added the tension to the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which is scheduled to end up next week.
On Thursday, Hamas returned to four bodies that said the hostages of the hostages who died in captivity, including Sherry Pipas, an Israeli woman who was kidnapped with her young two children during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, began that war. The forensic test by Israel decided that the body was not Mrs. Pepas.
Late Friday, Hamas quoted another body, Israeli officials confirmed early Saturday in the name of Mrs. Pepas. Her kidnapping and death with her children became a symbol of Israeli sadness.
The delusion of the sinner is still a stir in Israel. In addition, the Israeli authorities said, Hamas’s assurances that the children of Mrs. Pipas were killed in Israeli air strikes, that their kidnappers were killed by their “bare hands.” The episode raised doubts about the following steps for the ceasefire agreement, including whether Saturday’s exchange will continue as planned.
In contrast to the release of the six living hostages and the bodies of four dead towers, Israel was expected to fire 620 Palestinian prisoners, the largest group of detainees who were released since the ceasefire in Gaza last month. This did not happen.
It seems that the hostage transfer of Hamas was initially appointed to keep the deal between the two sides on the right track after a turbulent week. Among the Israelis, the emotions were affected by joy and sadness, as the families of the hostages who were released their condolences to the Bibas family and other relatives who killed their loved ones.
Palestinian families, who are awaiting the release of their relatives, have also expressed conflicting feelings. “These last hours are the most difficult,” said Adeeb Saifi, the father of a Palestinian prisoner, who was to be released. “They collect all contradictions – hardship, relief, hope, pain, love and hatred.”
The long -term future for the agreement is still unclear. The truce will end for six weeks, which started in late January, in early March unless both Israel and Hamas agree to the extension. The two sides have not yet reached an agreement in the next stage of the ceasefire, raising fears that the fighting could start again.
Hamas returned to the six six on Saturday in two celebrations that were very organized and a third transmission that was not broadcast on television. The first two were released, Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham, to Red Cross officials in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. The Israeli army said that the two men had crossed to Israel and would receive medical assessments.
Mr. Mingeto, 38, was the longest hostage of an Israeli neighborhood in Gaza. Of Israeli origin of Ethiopian origin, he crossed to Gaza in 2014 and took hostage by Hamas, who claimed to be a soldier, although he did not serve the army.
Mr. Shoham, along with many family members, including his wife and two children, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri, where more people were killed in the October 7 attack more than any other Israeli society. His wife, son and daughter were released during the ceasefire in November 2023, and in a statement after his release on Saturday, his family said that “all the feelings are mixed quickly together.”
Three other hostages were handed over in Nawihara, in the center of Gaza, and they were handed over to the Israeli army: Omar Shaim Tof, Omar Winker and Elijah Cohen. The three were kidnapped while trying to escape from a music festival near the border with Gaza, and they are said to suffer from the diseases that allowed them to issue priority.
During the delivery ceremony, the hostages looked thin and pale. They were wearing Kaki’s clothes, although whatever was not in military service when they were taken into account.
In a video released by the Israeli government, Mr. Shaim Tof, who was 20 years old, can see when he was kidnapped, gathering his parents and telling them, “You have no idea about your dream.”
In both celebrations, the convincing gunmen took the hostages in the stages and certificates of the ongoing issuance-theatrical delivery that has become typical for hostages in Hamas in this ceasefire, as the armed group aims to prove that it is still controlling Gaza.
Late on Saturday, Hamas released a public publicity video clip that appeared designed to instill fear on the integrity of the hostages who are still alive in Gaza. The video shows that the armed group brought two additional prisoners to a transfer ceremony on Saturday, where they were forced to watch from a car and beg for their release.
rights Collections International law experts say that a hostage video, by its definition, has been conducted under coercion, and it is usually forced on the data in it. Israeli officials launched former Hamas videos a form of “psychological warfare”, and experts say their production could constitute a war crime.
The scenes during the transportation operations themselves were quieter than they were during some of the previous chaotic exchanges.
The sixth hostage, HISHAM Al-Sayed, 37, in Gaza City, has been handed over to a more private transfer. An Israeli citizen from the town of Badwin in the southern Nijif Desert, Mr. hunting to Gaza on his own in April 2015 and seized a hostage by Hamas.
Al -Jazeera, the Qatar -funded TV channel, a video of a man who appeared to be Mr. Al -Sayed walking towards the Red Cross vehicle, and the Israeli army released him later his transfer to the hands of the Israeli forces in Gaza. Hamas, Mr. Al -Sayed Ensurcodochdo, held years before the launch of a videos of life proof in 2022, and showed him lying in a bed with the oxygen mask on his face, apparently in bad health.
His family said in a statement that they had “moved before Hisham’s return to the homeland,” adding, “The long -awaited moment has reached.”
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas committed to liberate at least 25 alive Israeli hostages and eight others for more than 1500 Palestinians imprisoned Israel.
The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza were eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones. Among those who were released on Saturday, 445 men, 23 minors and one woman were arrested after the October 2023 attack led by Hamas to southern Israel, according to the lists distributed by Palestinian officials. In addition, 151 Palestinians who were imprisoned for years, including some convicted of participating in deadly attacks against the Israelis.
Whether the ceasefire extends to the second stage is still inaccurate. The two sides were appointed to start talks about the details in the next stage more than two weeks ago, but it is not clear whether the serious negotiations have started.