On Saturday, February 22, Hamas in different locations in Gaza handed over 6 hostages. This marked the final group of survivors released by the armed organization as part of the first phase ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The 6 released hostages are Eliya Cohen, 27 years old, Omer Shem Tov, 22, Omer Wenkert, 23, Tal Shoham, 40, Avera Mengistu, 39, and Hisham Al-Sayed, 36.
Cohen, Shem Tov, and Wenkert were released at the same location with a handover ceremony held by Hamas; Shoham and Mengistu were released in Rafah in southern Gaza, while Al-Sayed was released later in the evening in Gaza City.
Reportedly, both Al-Sayed and Mengistu have serious mental health issues. These hostages had been detained in Gaza for over 500 days.
In exchange, Israel will release 602 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday.
Under the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, the hostages released on Saturday are the last group of survivors Hamas agreed to release in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
In the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas agreed to release a total of 33 hostages, including survivors and deceased individuals. The organization stated that next week, another four bodies of hostages will be transferred to complete the list of hostage releases in the first phase. If this transfer plan is realized, Hamas will still hold about 60 hostages, approximately half of whom are believed to be alive.
On Saturday, hundreds of Israelis gathered in the rain at what is known as Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. Some lit candles under photos of the Bibas family, whose bodies were repatriated from Gaza to Israel this week, while others watched the reports of the hostage release on screens.
According to Reuters, Yael Alexander also watched the footage of the hostage release on a big screen. Her son, a dual American and Israeli citizen, was a soldier abducted near a military base in Gaza in an attack by Hamas in October 2023.
“This (hostage release ceremony) gives me great hope that our son Edan will be the next one released,” she said.
Hamas’ meticulously designed hostage transfer ceremony has drawn criticism from the international community, including the United Nations. They brought the hostages on stage, forced some to speak publicly, and had children appear on stage, dressed in shirts with photos of Hamas leaders who were killed.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the hostages released on Saturday are “returning from the depths of hell, embarking on a healing and recovery process with their families, who have given their all for them”.
The 42-day first-phase ceasefire agreement is nearing its end. Negotiations for the second phase may prove to be more challenging. Hamas stated that without a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal, they will not release the remaining hostages. While promising the return of all hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to eradicate Hamas.