ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Hamas freed five captives and was set to release one more from Gaza on Saturday in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, after Israel confirmed that a body handed over hours earlier was that of captive Shiri Bibas.
Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, all seized from the site of the Nova music festival in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, were handed over to the Red Cross to be transported to Israeli forces.
Dozens of masked fighters stood guard in a crowd that had gathered to watch the handover, as Hamas men armed with automatic rifles stood on each side of the three hostages.
Tal Shoham, 40 and Avera Mengistu, 39, were released in southern Gaza’s Rafah earlier.
A sixth hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, was expected to be released in Gaza City.
