International Courant
Hamas freed 5 hostages on Saturday – with a sixth later anticipated – in trade for greater than 600 Palestinian prisoners as a part of the delicate ceases – the fireplace settlement with Israel.
The primary two males launched had been recognized as Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39. Video pictures confirmed the 2 males who appeared brittle and had been scared once they had been dropped at a stage for a crowd whereas they had been flanked by masked shooters. They had been transferred to the Crimson Cross and had been on their strategy to the IDF.
One other three hostages – Omer Werkt, 23; Omer Shem TOV, 22, and Eliya Cohen, 27 – had been then launched within the central metropolis of Nuseirat. They had been wearing pretend military uniforms, though they weren’t troopers once they had been kidnapped.
The three had been positioned in Crimson Cross autos that then walked to Israel.
Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, is anticipated to be launched in a while Saturday.
The Israeli protection forces and the Israeli safety company stated in a joint assertion that 5 hostages had crossed in two separate journeys to Israel.
Israeli hostage agent Eliya Cohen, middle, is accompanied by Hamas hunters earlier than being transferred to the Crimson Cross in Nuseirat, Central Gaza Strip, Saturday 22 February 2025. (AP Photograph/Abdel Kareem Hana)
LR: Omer Shem TOV; Omer Wenkrat; and Avera Mengistu. (Hostages and lacking households discussion board)
“A short while in the past, accompanied by IDF and Isa troops, the 2 recurring hostages crossed the border to the Israeli territory, and they’re at present on their strategy to a primary reception level in southern Israel, the place they’re reunited with members of Their households, “The reason stated that after Shaham and Mengistu had been launched earlier on Saturday.
“In keeping with the data communicated by the Crimson Cross, three hostages have been transferred to them and they’re on their strategy to IDF and Isa troops within the Gaza Strip,” stated a later clarification, including: “The IDF is ready to have a Additional hostage to be obtained to the Crimson Cross within the close to future.
Avera Mengistu reverses with brother and sister after greater than 10 years. (IDF)
Two of the Gijzelaars-mixistu and al-Sayed residents who’ve been detained since greater than a decade in the past Gaza, lengthy earlier than the conflict was fueled by Hamas’ on October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, who was militarily requested, retribution of Israeli troops.
The Shaham household stated in a press release that his launch of Hamas Captivity “is an unforgettable second, the place all feelings go collectively shortly.”
“Our Tal is with us. We thank all of the individuals of Israel who’ve stood with us due to all of the lengthy days of ache and struggling,” stated the reason. “Throughout nowadays we want privateness for Tal, ADI and the youngsters. At this significant second in our lives, our solely request is to seize this window to shut a deal that fathers deliver again to their youngsters – youngsters want their Father – and return all hostages house: the dwelling for rehabilitation and the deceased for everlasting peace.
Palestinians collect whereas Hamas hunters accompany the Crimson Cross autos previous to the switch of Israeli hostages in Nuseirat, Central Gaza Strip, on Saturday 22 February 2025. (AP Photograph/Abdel Kareem Hana)
LR: Eliya Cohen; Tal SHOHAMS; And Hisham al-Sayed. (Hostages and lacking households discussion board)
The Mengistu household has additionally launched a press release stating that they ‘have endured for ten years and 5 months of unimaginable struggling’.
“Throughout this time, fixed efforts had been made to safe his return, with prayers and supplications, some silent, who remained unanswered till in the present day,” the household stated. “At these moments we collect in fearful anticipation on the return of our beloved son, brother and uncle Avera. We ask that these moments are revered, and that we get the peace and tranquility that we want so badly.”
Stays of Shiri Bibas, mom of two killed, are stated to have returned to Israel after the damaged promise of Hamas
It’s because the fragile ceases -the -fires deal reached a month in the past, was in power, regardless of current revelations that the physique of hostage Shiri Bibas was initially not returned to Israel as promised by Hamas.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hamas would “pay the total worth” as a result of he would hand over the physique of a Palestinian girl from Gaza as a substitute of the physique of the Israeli hostage agent. The sons of the hostage – Ariel and Kfir Bibas – along with Oded Lifshitz had been despatched again by Hamas on Thursday as anticipated.
Terror Group reacts after not returning the physique of murdered hostage Shiri Bibas
Israelis reply whereas Palestinian militants hand the hostages to the Crimson Cross within the Gaza Strip whereas watching a reside broadcast on the Plaza that is named the ‘hostages Sq.’ in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday 22 February 2025. (AP Photograph/Oded Balilty)
On the finish of Friday, Hamas stated that it handed the physique of Shiri Bibas to the Crimson Cross, which confirmed that it had obtained human stays in Gaza and had transferred to the Israeli authorities. The Bibas household confirmed its identification in the beginning of Saturday.
Hamas stated that “it has no real interest in containing our bodies in his possession.” The fear group stated that the useless hostages that had been transferred on Thursday had been killed by an Israeli air raid in November 2023 and that the our bodies might have been incorrectly recognized because of bombing within the space.
A poster reveals Shiri Bibas, who was kidnapped to Gaza together with her husband and two younger sons on October 7, 2023, in Jerusalem, Friday, February 21, 2025. (AP)
The fear group additionally killed Ariel and Kfir Bibas ‘with their naked arms’, in keeping with the Israeli military, which didn’t provide any proof to help the declare.
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Behind Adm. Daniel Hagari claimed that the forensic evaluation of the Bibas Boys our bodies confirmed that Hamas “didn’t draw back from the boys”, however “she killed with their naked arms” after which “dedicated horrible acts to cover these atrocities.” Hagari stated Lifshitz was killed by kidnappers in Gaza.
The Related Press has contributed to this report.
Hamas releases extra hostages in trade for greater than 600 Palestinian prisoners as a part of Stakes -Toeral
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