Hamas has released a total of five Israeli captives in Gaza as part of a larger prisoner exchange with Israel under the first phase of a ceasefire agreement. The captives were handed over without a ceremony, with the last captive expected to be transferred to Israeli authorities in Gaza City. This marks the end of the first stage of the ceasefire, with a total of 33 captives being released.
The release of the captives was met with a large crowd in Gaza, with Hamas ensuring the safety and organization of the process. The elaborate staging of the handover was seen as a way for Hamas to signal their responsibility as stakeholders in the ceasefire agreement. Israel is expected to release 602 Palestinians from its jails as part of the exchange.
The ceasefire had faced challenges, including the misidentification of a body released on Thursday as one of the captives taken in the 2023 attacks. However, the body was later confirmed to belong to Shiri Bibas, who was killed in the attacks. Despite these challenges, the release of the captives and the upcoming release of Palestinian prisoners marks a key milestone in the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
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