Gaza, February 24, 2025: Hamas has released five hostages from Gaza and is set to free one more as part of an exchange involving hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The release followed Israel’s confirmation that a body handed over earlier belonged to Shiri Bibas, an Israeli captive.
Released Hostages include Eliya Cohen (27), Omer Shem Tov (22), and Omer Wenkert (23), all abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack – were handed over to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza, for transfer to Israeli forces.
Tal Shoham (40) and Avera Mengistu (39) were released in Rafah, southern Gaza earlier in the day, while Hisham Al-Sayed (36) is expected to be released in Gaza City.
Live footage showed masked Hamas fighters standing guard as the hostages were handed over. Armed militants flanked the captives during the transfer, which was carried out in coordination with the International Red Cross.
This exchange marks another phase in ongoing negotiations amid the ongoing conflict, as efforts continue to secure the release of remaining hostages.
