Hamas successfully freed six hostages as part of a tense exchange, amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel. The hostages included three Israelis taken from a music festival during the attacks on October 7, 2023, and others who had been held for nearly a decade. Staged ceremonies marked the release, criticized by Israel and the Red Cross for their lack of dignity. Crowds in Israel celebrated the return of the captives, but the military's confirmation that the last hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed, had been freed highlighted the ongoing complexities surrounding future negotiations and hostilities.
Five of the captives were handed over in staged ceremonies that the Red Cross and Israel have condemned, brought out by masked, armed Hamas fighters in front of hundreds of Palestinians before being transferred to Red Cross vehicles.
Hamas has come under heavy criticism for public displays during the hostage release, with Israel, the U.N. and the Red Cross saying they show a lack of respect for the dignity of the hostages.
The Israeli military confirmed that the final hostage was released later, expected to be Hisham Al-Sayed, who had been held since crossing into Gaza in 2015.
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