Hamas Releases Five Israeli Hostages as Ceasefire Agreement Nears Critical Phase
Hamas freed five of the six Israeli hostages expected to be released from captivity in Gaza on Saturday, as a fragile ceasefire strained by mutual accusations approaches the conclusion of its first phase.
Avera Mengistu, a 39-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli man described by his family as mentally ill and held since 2014, and Tal Shoham, 40, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in a highly orchestrated ceremony in Rafah, southern Gaza.
Shortly afterward, Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, were released in Nuseirat, central Gaza. Though they appeared pale and thin, their condition seemed better than some of the other hostages freed this month.
The men were paraded onstage by armed Hamas fighters, seemingly under pressure to wave and smil...