Hamas frees additional Israeli captives
Israel has released 183 Palestinians from its prisons in a swap for three hostages. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Western Jerusalem has freed 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for three hostages.
Hamas has confirmed the release of three additional Israeli hostages taken during its incursion on October 7, 2023, as part of a ceasefire agreement. In response, Israel has released another 183 Palestinian inmates, as reported by the country’s prison authorities. These prisoners have been transported by bus to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
With this exchange, the total number of hostages released by Hamas since the truce began on January 19 has reached 21 individuals, including 16 Israelis and 5 Thai citizens.
Earlier in the day, three Israelis — Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34 — appeared at a public event in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, where they signed handover documents prepared by Hamas. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office characterized the "shocking" appearance of the three hostages released by Hamas, noting that Israel would take action regarding this situation.
“The shocking images we saw today will not pass without response,” the statement said. “The government, together with security officials, will support them and their families. Israel is committed to bringing back all the hostages and missing.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transport of the men to an Israeli military facility in Gaza, after which they were moved by the Israel Defense Forces to a base outside the enclave. There, they reunited with their families and received initial medical evaluations, according to the Times of Israel.
The three hostages were among 251 taken by Hamas during its attack on Israel 16 months ago, which also resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people. Sharabi and Ami were captured in Kibbutz Beeri near the Gaza border, while Levy was taken from a bomb shelter close to the Nova music festival in southern Israel.
Reports suggest that 39 hostages remain in Gaza, alongside the bodies of 34 individuals confirmed dead by the IDF.
According to recent statistics from Gaza’s health ministry, at least 48,181 people have died and 111,638 others have been injured in Israeli airstrikes and the ground offensive within the Palestinian enclave since October 7, 2023.
The ceasefire, facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, is organized into three phases. In the first phase, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages, including children, female soldiers, the wounded, and the sick, in exchange for 1,904 Palestinians imprisoned by Israeli authorities. Subsequent phases aim to secure the release of remaining male civilians and soldiers held by Hamas, as well as the return of the deceased from both sides.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
Hamas has confirmed the release of three additional Israeli hostages taken during its incursion on October 7, 2023, as part of a ceasefire agreement. In response, Israel has released another 183 Palestinian inmates, as reported by the country’s prison authorities. These prisoners have been transported by bus to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
With this exchange, the total number of hostages released by Hamas since the truce began on January 19 has reached 21 individuals, including 16 Israelis and 5 Thai citizens.
Earlier in the day, three Israelis — Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34 — appeared at a public event in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, where they signed handover documents prepared by Hamas. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office characterized the "shocking" appearance of the three hostages released by Hamas, noting that Israel would take action regarding this situation.
“The shocking images we saw today will not pass without response,” the statement said. “The government, together with security officials, will support them and their families. Israel is committed to bringing back all the hostages and missing.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the transport of the men to an Israeli military facility in Gaza, after which they were moved by the Israel Defense Forces to a base outside the enclave. There, they reunited with their families and received initial medical evaluations, according to the Times of Israel.
The three hostages were among 251 taken by Hamas during its attack on Israel 16 months ago, which also resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people. Sharabi and Ami were captured in Kibbutz Beeri near the Gaza border, while Levy was taken from a bomb shelter close to the Nova music festival in southern Israel.
Reports suggest that 39 hostages remain in Gaza, alongside the bodies of 34 individuals confirmed dead by the IDF.
According to recent statistics from Gaza’s health ministry, at least 48,181 people have died and 111,638 others have been injured in Israeli airstrikes and the ground offensive within the Palestinian enclave since October 7, 2023.
The ceasefire, facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, is organized into three phases. In the first phase, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages, including children, female soldiers, the wounded, and the sick, in exchange for 1,904 Palestinians imprisoned by Israeli authorities. Subsequent phases aim to secure the release of remaining male civilians and soldiers held by Hamas, as well as the return of the deceased from both sides.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
