GAZA CITY: Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday in the latest exchange under a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel prepared to free 183 Palestinian prisoners in return.
The three men—Eli Sharabi, 52, Or Levy, 34, and Ohad Ben Ami, 56—were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in a carefully managed transfer. The exchange marks the fifth round of releases since the truce was brokered last month by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Live footage showed a bus carrying Palestinian prisoners, freed from Israel’s Ofer prison, arriving in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. The handover was accompanied by celebrations in the West Bank, where families awaited the return of their loved ones.
The ongoing truce, currently in its first phase, aims to secure the release of 11 more Israeli captives over 42 days. So far, Hamas has freed 21 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
However, the prospect of a more lasting agreement remains uncertain, with negotiations for the next phase set to begin on Monday.
Ahead of their release, the three Israeli hostages appeared on a stage in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, surrounded by Hamas’s Qassam Brigades fighters. They held up release certificates, with banners behind them bearing the words: “We are the flood, we are the war’s next day.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that after Saturday’s swap, an Israeli delegation would travel to Doha for further talks on the ceasefire’s next phase.
Trump’s Gaza takeover proposal
The release comes amid global outrage over a proposal floated by former US President Donald Trump, suggesting that the United States should take control of Gaza and expel its population.
Trump’s remarks have drawn condemnation from Palestinian officials, international community, and human rights groups, who warn that such rhetoric could derail ceasefire efforts.
ALSO READ: Over 12,000 Bodies Remain Under Gaza Rubble as Israel Bans Equipment to Retrieve Them
Trump’s comments have also sparked fears that they could complicate negotiations for the second phase of the truce, which is expected to involve the release of the remaining Israeli captives in exchange for a permanent end to hostilities.
West Bank raids
Even as the prisoner exchanges take place, Israeli forces have continued to conduct operations across the occupied West Bank. Overnight, troops reportedly raided the family homes of some Palestinian detainees set for release.
The Palestinian Information Center reported that houses in the village of Deir Nidham, northwest of Ramallah, were among the targets. In Qalqilya, “dozens” of people were allegedly arrested.
Since Hamas’s October 7 attack, in which 251 hostages were taken into Gaza, Israel has waged a relentless military campaign, killing at least 47,583 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry. The United Nations considers these figures credible.
Israel claims that 73 of the original hostages remain in captivity, including 34 who are presumed dead.
