Palestinian militants have released two Israeli hostages amid ongoing conflict following their significant assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. During this unprecedented attack, which led to a prolonged war in the Gaza Strip, militants captured numerous individuals. Tal Shoham and Averu Mengistu were shown on stage in Rafah, southern Gaza, as armed, masked fighters dressed in black escorted them. Shoham spoke at the gathering, and shortly afterward, both men were handed over to the Red Cross, which transported them away in a convoy.
Upon their return, Israeli security forces welcomed Shoham and Mengistu back into Israeli territory. The release prompted emotional reactions in Tel Aviv, where hundreds gathered in a location referred to as ‘Hostages Square.’ As a broadcast of the release played, attendees reacted with applause, some visibly moved and in tears.
In a separate event scheduled for Saturday morning, four additional hostages are set to be released in central Gaza. The Israeli advocacy group, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, had previously disclosed the identities of six individuals slated for release, including Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Hisham al-Sayed, alongside Mengistu and Shoham. Notably, Sayed and Mengistu had spent nearly a decade in captivity.
These hostages’ release marks a significant step under the first phase of a ceasefire agreement that commenced on January 19 and is scheduled to conclude in early March. A source from Hamas informed AFP that the militant group intends to release four additional hostages from Nuseirat later in the day.
The atmosphere during the releases was heavily orchestrated, with militants preparing stages adorned with large posters promoting their cause and honoring fallen fighters. The Red Cross has continually urged that the handover process be conducted in a dignified manner, but the event in Rafah was marked by Hamas showcasing its military presence. In the backdrop of cold winter rain, scenes included fighters with automatic weapons and rocket launchers, all while nationalistic Palestinian music played. The group’s green flag was prominently displayed amidst the ruins of a war-torn landscape.
In exchange for the released hostages, Israel is expected to liberate around 602 inmates on the same day, primarily Gazans detained post-attack. Some prisoners will face expulsion outside of Israel and the Palestinian territories due to their severe sentences. So far, the arrangement has facilitated the release of 21 living Israeli hostages in return for over 1,100 Palestinian prisoners.
The recent days have also seen the exchange of human remains, including those of hostages killed during captivity. Among the bodies returned on Thursday was that of Shiri Bibas, whose family confirmed her death after DNA analysis. The Israeli government had previously claimed that she was not among the remains that had been returned, igniting considerable grief and anger among her loved ones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing increasing domestic pressure regarding his management of the ongoing conflict and negotiations for hostages, stated his commitment to ensure that Hamas faces severe repercussions for what he termed a “cruel and evil violation of the agreement.”
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari reported that the analysis of human remains confirmed that Palestinian militants killed both of Bibas’s young boys, Ariel and Kfir, in November 2023. Hamas, however, has long contended that an Israeli airstrike was responsible for their deaths, along with that of their mother.
In total, the October 7 assault by Hamas resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,215 individuals, mainly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. In retaliation, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have led to over 48,319 fatalities, the majority of whom are reported to be civilians, based on statistics provided by the Hamas-administered health ministry—a source the United Nations considers trustworthy. Currently, there are still 65 hostages believed to be in Gaza, with Israeli military estimates indicating that 35 of them are deceased.
