Hamas Releases Six Israeli Hostages in Gaza Under Ceasefire Agreement

The latest exchange included the release of six Israeli men and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, as negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire remain uncertain.

• The Hamas militant group released six Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement mediated with Israel, which also involves the release of Palestinian prisoners.
• The freed hostages included individuals held for up to a decade, as well as those captured during the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
• Hamas staged publicized handovers of the hostages, drawing criticism for using these events as propaganda and psychological tactics.
• The remains of Shiri Bibas, a German-Israeli woman, were returned after an earlier mix-up, alongside confirmation of her murder during captivity, along with her two young sons.
• While the first phase of the ceasefire is set to end in early March, uncertainty looms over further negotiations for a potential second phase to end hostilities and secure the release of remaining hostages.

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