Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu were the latest hostages to be released by Hamas in Rafah. Both hostages were transferred to Israeli custody and have crossed into the country. Four additional hostages are set to be released in Nuseirat.
The seventh, final hostage-prisoner exchange of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is underway. Two hostages have been transferred to Israeli custody, and another three were exchanged in Nuseirat.are: Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu. Hisham Al-Sayed will be released separately, Hamas told NBC News.
Negotiations over the second stage of the ceasefire deal, originally slated to begin Feb. 4, is intended to secure the release of the remaining 58 hostages and discuss the administration of post-war Gaza.Hostage Hisham al-Sayed, who is set to be released today by Hamas after 11 years in captivity, will be handed over in Gaza without a ceremony"out of respect for his family," Hamas' military wing told NBC News.
Moments before, the Palestinian flag was raised on a mast while the Palestinian national anthem was played, the first time this has happened at a hostage release.During every other release, these cars have carried the returning hostages, and as in previous releases, the cars are also accompanied by a truck carrying a group of fighters holding guns.
Trump also acknowledged the possibility of Hamas' continued presence in a post-war Gaza, saying that it could be difficult to remove the group entirely. Fellow hostage Hisham Al-Sayed was similarly kidnapped while crossing the border in 2014, and is set to be released in Nuseirat later today.The two hostages released in Rafah today have been transferred to Israeli custody inside the Gaza Strip, the country’s military said.
Red Cross vehicles accompanied by buses from Rafah have also set off toward the Kerem Shalom crossing east of Rafah to receive the Palestinian prisoners who will be released today in exchange for the hostages.Scores of fighters have gathered by a stage set up by Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, masked and holding weapons in what had become a familiar display of force by the militant group during the hostage releases.
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