International-News

Israel, three more hostages freed by Hamas: the last of the six will be released soon

Hamas has released five hostages of the six planned. Israel will release 602 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the 6 Israeli hostages. Hamas demands a final ceasefire and the withdrawal of the IDF to hand over all remaining hostages

This morning, Saturday 22 February, five Israeli hostages were released, including Tal Shoham, Abera Mengistu, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert, who were handed over to the International Red Cross and later to Israeli forces. The sixth hostage, Hisham al-Sayed, will be released separately without a public ceremony.

Hamas declared its readiness for a ‘total prisoner exchange’ with Israel, demanding in return a permanent end to the war, the withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction of the region. In exchange for the release of the six hostages, Israel will release 602 Palestinian prisoners. The release of these hostages is the last phase of the first part of the ceasefire agreement, which began on 19 January. Hamas also emphasised its intention to continue with the second phase of the agreement, which aims at a final ceasefire and the improvement of conditions in Gaza.

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