Hamas frees 6 hostages in latest exchange with Israel
Advertisement
In the central town of Nuseirat, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen were posed alongside Hamas fighters on the stage. A beaming Shem Tov even kissed two militants next to him on the head and blew kisses to the crowd. Hamas has come under heavy criticism for such public displays, with Israel, the U.N. and the Red Cross saying they are cruel and do not respect the dignity of the hostages.
Watching the release, Cohen's family and friends in Israel chanted 'Eliya! Eliya! Eliya!' and cheered when they saw him for the first time. Shem Tov's grandmother ululated in joy, shrieking, 'Omer, my joy! My life!' as she saw him.
Friends of hostage Eliya Cohen celebrated on Saturday.
Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty
A Palestinian woman walked among Hamas fighters in the central Gaza Strip ahead of the release.
BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images
The Israeli military said the final hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, was released later Saturday. The Bedouin Israeli crossed on his own into Gaza in 2015 and had been held since. His family has told Israeli media Al-Sayed was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The latest releases, to be followed by the freeing of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, went ahead after tensions mounted over a grisly and heart-wrenching dispute triggered this week
The remains that Hamas transferred with her sons' bodies on Thursday were later determined to be those of an unidentified Palestinian woman. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge for 'a cruel and malicious violation,' while Hamas suggested it had been a mistake.
Advertisement
On Friday night, the small militant group believed to have been holding Bibas and her sons — the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades — handed over a second body. Bibas' family said Israeli forensic authorities had confirmed the remains were hers.
'For 16 months we sought certainty, and now that it's here, it brings no comfort, though we hope it marks the beginning of closure,' the family said.
Difficult negotiations likely over the ceasefire's next phase
The ceasefire deal has paused the war but is nearing the end of its first phase. Negotiations over a second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens more hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal,
The six hostages being freed Saturday are the last living ones to be released under the first phase.
Cohen, Shem Tov and Wenkert, all in their 20s, were abducted by Hamas fighters at the Nova music festival. During their release, they were brought out wearing fake army uniforms, though they were not soldiers when they were kidnapped.
Earlier Saturday, two other hostages — Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38 — were freed in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Arriving back in Israel, both were taken to medical centers for examination.
'This is an unforgettable moment, where all emotions are rapidly mixing together. Our Tal is with us,' Shoham's family said in a statement, calling for a deal to free all those still captive. 'There is a window of opportunity; we must not miss it.'
Advertisement
Shoham, who also holds Austrian citizenship, was visiting his family in Kibbutz Be'eri when Hamas militants stormed into the community during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Shoham's wife, two young children, and three other relatives who were abducted with him were freed in a November 2023 exchange.
Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, had been held in Gaza since entering on his own in 2014. Watching the handover on Israeli media, Mengistu's family and friends broke out into a Hebrew song, 'Here is the Light,' as they saw him for the first time in more than a decade. 'Do you remember me?' one of his brothers asks as they embraced at the hospital.
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners set for release
Later Saturday, Israel is to release 620 imprisoned Palestinians.
They include 151 who were serving life or other sentences, around 100 of whom will be deported to other countries, according to the Palestinian prisoners media office. They also include 445 men as well as 18 children between the ages of 15 and 17, five aged between 18-19, and a woman, all of whom were seized by Israeli troops in Gaza during the current war, according to the media office.
Hamas has said it will also release four more bodies next week, completing the first phase of the ceasefire. If that plan is carried out, Hamas would retain about 60 hostages, about half of whom are believed to be alive.
Hamas has said it won't release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu, with the full backing of the Trump administration, says he's committed to destroying Hamas' military and governing capacities and returning all the hostages, goals widely seen as mutually exclusive.
Advertisement
Israel's military offensive killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
The offensive destroyed vast areas of Gaza, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble. At its height, the war displaced 90% of Gaza's population. Many have returned to their homes to find nothing left and no way of rebuilding.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Jahjouh from Rafah. Associated Press writers Abdel-Kareem Hana in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
28 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Authorities charge man suspected of planning attack in Germany, possibly targeting Israeli Embassy
BERLIN (AP) — German prosecutors announced terrorism charges Wednesday against a man who they say may have planned to attack the Israeli Embassy in Berlin and intended to join the Islamic State group in Pakistan. The suspect, a Russian national identified only as Akhmad E. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested on Feb. 20 at the capital's airport as he prepared to board a flight. He has now been indicted on charges of supporting a foreign terrorist organization, attempted membership in such a group, and preparing a serious act of violence. Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the suspect initially planned to carry out an attack in Germany, possibly on the Israeli Embassy. He allegedly found instructions for making explosives on the internet but was unable to pursue the plan because he couldn't get a hold of the necessary components. At the same time, the suspect was allegedly translating propaganda into Russian and Chechen for IS. Prosecutors said he intended to join the group in Pakistan and get military training, and that he financed the trip by taking out two contracts for expensive smartphones, which he then sold. He allegedly sent a video declaring loyalty to the group to a suspected IS member outside of Germany shortly before his departure. The indictment was filed earlier this month to a court in Berlin, which will now have to decide whether to send the case to trial.
Newsweek
29 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Iran Says New Missiles Ready for War
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tehran has built a new generation of advanced missiles that are ready to be used against Israel if there is another attack, Iran's defense minister said on Wednesday. "Today we possess missiles with far better capabilities," Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh told reporters in Tehran, signaling Iran's readiness for a broader confrontation with not only Israel, but also the United States, which he said had provided Israeli forces with intelligence and logistics support during the recent war. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department as well as Iran and Israel's foreign ministries for comment. Why It Matters The announcement underscores intensifying tensions in the Middle East following the 12-day conflict in June, which deepened rival claims of victory from both governments. Iran's push to showcase self-reliance in weapons production seeks to directly challenge Israeli and U.S.-made defense systems and fuels concerns of a widening arms race in the region. Washington's direct involvement adds another volatile dimension. Iran Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' Meeting on June 26, 2025 in Shanghai, China. All parties participating in the meeting agreed that they should continue to enhance strategic... Iran Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' Meeting on June 26, 2025 in Shanghai, China. All parties participating in the meeting agreed that they should continue to enhance strategic communication, promote practical cooperation and jointly maintain regional peace and stability. More Fu Tian/AP Photo What To Know Nasirzadeh said the missiles used in June war were years old, according to Iranian state media, and that Iran now had weapons with greater range and accuracy. He warned that "another adventure" by Israel would be met with these new systems and emphasized that Iranian forces rely entirely on domestically produced arms. Nasirzadeh claimed Iranian missiles had inflicted "heavy losses" on Israel during their recent conflict due to Israel's faltering defenses, with early interception rates at 40 percent and falling to 10 percent by the end. Iran's tactics improved as Israel's systems weakened, he said. Israel's Response Nasirzadeh's comments came after Israel's military chief said earlier this month that the army was ready to launch more strikes on Iran. He framed the June conflict as a successful preemptive move that neutralized an existential threat. Since then, the competing claims from Iran and Israel have only added to tensions in the region. An Iran-made Kheibarshekan missile is exhibited during a rally that marks the 46th anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, on February 10, 2025. An Iran-made Kheibarshekan missile is exhibited during a rally that marks the 46th anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, on February 10, 2025. Hossein Beris/AP Photo War Heroes Meanwhile, on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told radio host Mark Levin that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be considered war heroes for the strikes that he said had destroyed Iran's nuclear program. Trump said U.S. bombers "obliterated" three sites on June 22—a claim disputed by Iranian authorities—and described how he awarded the pilots in the Oval Office, calling the mission "so perfect." US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025. US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images What People Are Saying Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh: "The missiles we used in the 12-day war were built several years ago. Today we possess missiles with far better capabilities, and if the Zionist enemy embarks on another adventure, we will certainly use them." U.S. President Donald Trump: "He's a war hero. I guess I am too. Nobody cares. But I am too. I mean, I sent those planes." What Happens Next Iran's declaration of new missile capabilities, paired with Trump's insistence that U.S. strikes had crippled Tehran's nuclear ambitions, sets the stage for another cycle of confrontation. With Israel also vowing to respond to any renewed threat and Iran pledging to unleash more advanced weaponry, the region appears locked in a path toward further escalation.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
As Netanyahu expands Gaza war, some reservists grow more disillusioned
JERUSALEM, Aug 19 (Reuters) - As Israel seeks to expand its offensive in Gaza, a measure of how the country's mood has changed in the nearly two-year-old conflict is the discontent evident among some reservists being called up to serve once again. Shortly after the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israelis dropped everything -- honeymoons, studies and new lives abroad -- to rush home and fight. Now, some voice disillusionment with political leaders sending them back into battle, as the military prepares to take control of Gaza City, the enclave's biggest urban centre. According to a study conducted by Agam Labs at the Hebrew University which measured sentiment about the new campaign among more than 300 people serving in the current war, 25.7% of reservists said their motivation had decreased significantly compared with the start of the campaign. Another 10% said their motivation slightly decreased. Asked to describe their feelings about the campaign, the biggest group -- 47% -- of responders expressed negative emotions towards the government and its handling of the war and hostage negotiations. In March, before the latest offensive was announced, the Israeli news outlet Ynet reported that the amount of reservists reporting for duty was 30 percent below the number requested by military commanders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas after it attacked Israel in Oct. 7, 2023 in the bloodiest single day for Jews since the Holocaust, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. But the war has dragged on, with Hamas still putting up a fight and Israelis condemning their prime minister for failing to reach a deal with the militant group to win the release of hostages despite many mediation efforts. 'THIS WAR IS ENTIRELY POLITICAL' Reservists were among thousands of Israelis who took part in a nationwide strike on Sunday, one of the biggest protests in support of families of hostages, calling on Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas to end the war and release the remaining captives. One of those angry protesters was Roni Zehavi, a reservist pilot who stopped serving out of principle after more than 200 days of service when the last ceasefire fell through. He said that when reservists were enlisted, they did everything required without saying a word. But then questions such as "where is this going?" started to pop up, he recalled. Reservists accused the government - the most far-right administration in Israel's history -- of perpetuating the war for political reasons. "This war is entirely political, it has no goal except to keep Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister," he told Reuters. "He is willing to do everything necessary, to sacrifice the hostages, fallen soldiers, dead citizens - to do what he needs so that he and his wife will stay in power. It's the tragedy of the state of Israel and it's the reality". Asked for comment about the disenchantment voiced by some reservists, the Israeli military said it sees great importance in the reserve service and each case of absence is examined. "In this challenging security reality, the contribution of the reservists is essential to the success of missions and to maintaining the security of the country," it said. The prime minister's office was not immediately available for comment. Netanyahu has so far resisted calls to establish a state inquiry - in which he could be implicated - into the security failures of the October 7 attack. He has said such an investigation should not be launched as long as the war is still under way. Some of his far-right coalition partners have threatened to bring down the government should the war end without meeting all its stated goals. When Israel called up 360,000 reservists after the October 7 attack, the largest such compulsory mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, it received an enthusiastic response. The mood among some reservists appears different now. 'I will not be part of a system that knows that it will kill the hostages. I'm just not prepared to take that. And I really fear that, to the point where it keeps me up at night," one combat medic told Reuters. He asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak. According to Israel's Channel 12, the military plans to call up 250,000 reservists for the Gaza City offensive. Israel has lost 898 soldiers and thousands have been wounded in the Gaza war, the country's longest conflict since the 1948 war that accompanied its creation. Its military response to the Hamas attack has killed over 61,000 people in Gaza, including many children, according to Gaza health authorities. 'LACK OF VISION' Military service is mandatory in Israel, a small nation of fewer than 10 million people, but it relies heavily on reservists in times of crisis. Reserve duty is technically mandatory, though penalties for evasion often depend on the willingness of the direct commander to enforce punishment. Reuters interviewed 10 Israeli reservists for this story. Like many other reservists, special forces Sergeant Major A. Kalker concluded that Israel's military and political leadership has failed to formulate a sound day-after plan for the war. "There's a lack of vision, both in the political and the senior military leadership, a real lack of vision," he said, but added that shouldn't amount to refusing to serve. "Bibi (Netanyahu) is the king of not making decisions … like treading water." Reservist Brigadier General Roi Alkabetz told Reuters that the military and Israel's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had transitioned to using the reservists in a "measured way", because Zamir understood the hardship for reservists and had put much of the hard work on soldiers in mandatory service. "He's doing it in a logical way," Alkabetz said. "The reservists will come." (Writing by Michael Georgy, Editing by William Maclean)
