Hamas released six living hostages to the Israel Defense Forces as well as returning the body of Shiri Bibas, a mother who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas, to Israel. According to CBN News, Omer Wenkert, 23, Omer Shem Tov, 22, Eliyah Cohen, 27, Tal Shoham, 40, Avera Mengistu, 39, were released by Hamas in two separate ceremonies in central and southern Gaza, respectively. A sixth hostage, Hisham al-Sayed, 37, was also set free.
Both Mengistu and al-Sayed had been held captive in Gaza for over a decade.
Meanwhile, Israel is expected to release more than 600 Palestinian inmates and prisoners, including those convicted of killing Israelis, in return for the hostages.
The families of the hostages expressed great joy upon their release on Saturday.
“Eliya, Eliya, Eliyah!” Cohen’s family chanted when they saw him appear on a big screen in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Shem Tov’s grandmother shouted, “My joy, my life!” when his image appeared.
In a statement by Mengistu’s relatives, “Our family has endured 10 years and five months of unimaginable suffering. During this time, there have been continuous efforts to secure his return, with prayers and pleas, some silent, that remained…
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