NUSEIRAT, Gaza Strip (AP) — In a significant development, Red Cross vehicles have reached the central Gaza town of Nuseirat to facilitate the release of more Israeli hostages. The arrival of these vehicles marks a crucial step in the ongoing process of hostage release under the fragile ceasefire agreement.
A crowd of hundreds of Palestinians gathered in anticipation of the hostages' handover. Earlier, Hamas freed the first two of six Israelis scheduled for release under the ceasefire deal that has temporarily halted over 15 months of conflict.
The two hostages, Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38, were handed over to Red Cross vehicles after being brought onto a stage by masked and armed Hamas fighters in Rafah. The Israeli military later confirmed their safe arrival in Israel.
This latest release is set to be followed by the freeing of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The process continues despite heightened tensions due to a dispute over the identity of a body initially handed over by Hamas, which was later determined to belong to an unidentified Palestinian woman instead of the expected Israeli mother, Shiri Bibas.
Following the controversy, the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades provided a second body, confirmed by Israeli forensic authorities as Bibas’. Her family expressed mixed emotions, stating, "For 16 months we sought certainty, and now that it’s here, it brings no comfort, though we hope it marks the beginning of closure."
The dispute raised new doubts about the ceasefire deal, which is nearing the end of its first phase. Negotiations for a second phase, involving more hostage releases and potentially a lasting ceasefire, are anticipated to be challenging. The current release includes the last living hostages under the ceasefire’s first phase.
The families of the released hostages experienced joy and relief, despite uncertainties about the ceasefire's future. "This is an unforgettable moment," said Shoham’s family. "There is a window of opportunity; we must not miss it," they added, urging for further negotiations to release remaining hostages.
Shoham, who also holds Austrian citizenship, was visiting family in Kibbutz Be’eri when captured. Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, had been held since 2014. Others set for release include Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, all abducted from a music festival. Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, is also to be returned as part of the agreement.
More than 600 Palestinians jailed in Israel will be released, including 50 serving life sentences and 445 captured since the war began. Hamas plans to release four more bodies, completing the ceasefire's first phase, while retaining about 60 hostages.
Netanyahu, supported by the Trump administration, remains committed to dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities, a stance seen as conflicting with the goals of a lasting ceasefire. Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza has faced universal rejection by Arab countries.
The Israeli military offensive has resulted in significant casualties, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The conflict has devastated Gaza, displacing 90% of its population at its peak. Many returnees face the grim reality of destroyed homes and shattered lives.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel.
