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Asharq Al-Awsat
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamas Frees 6 Hostages but Questions Cloud Gaza Ceasefire's Future
Hamas on Saturday released the last six living hostages expected under the first phase of its ceasefire with Israel with a week remaining, as growing questions over the next phase clouded the fragile deal 's future. The hostages included three Israeli men seized from the Nova music festival and another taken while visiting family in southern Israel when Hamas-led fighters stormed the border in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered Israel's 16-month military campaign in Gaza. The two other hostages were held for a decade after entering Gaza on their own. Five were handed over in staged ceremonies that the Red Cross and Israel have condemned as cruel and disrespectful, escorted by masked, armed Hamas fighters in front of hundreds of Palestinians. Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen were posed alongside Hamas fighters. A beaming Shem Tov kissed two gunmen on the head and blew kisses to the crowd. Cohen's family and friends in Israel chanted "Eliya! Eliya! Eliya!" and cheered. "You're heroes," Shem Tov told his parents as they later embraced, laughing and crying. "You have no idea how much I dreamt of you." Earlier Saturday, Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38, were freed. Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, entered Gaza in 2014. His family told Israeli media he has struggled with mental health issues. Later, Israel's military said Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, was released. The Bedouin Israeli entered Gaza in 2015. His family has told Israeli media he was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia. The release of over 600 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel — the largest one-day prisoner release in the ceasefire's first phase — was delayed, apparently for Israeli security consultations on Saturday evening. The hostage release followed a heartrending dispute sparked when Hamas on Thursday handed over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother abducted with her two young boys. The remains were determined to be those of a Palestinian woman. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge for "a cruel and malicious violation," while Hamas suggested it was a mistake. On Friday, the small militant group believed to have been holding Bibas and her sons — the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades — handed over a body that Bibas' family said Israeli forensic authorities confirmed was hers. "Now that it's here, it brings no comfort, though we hope it marks the beginning of closure," the family said. Hamas on Saturday denied Israeli claims it was responsible for the Bibas children's deaths, calling them lies aimed at justifying Israeli military actions against civilians in Gaza. Difficult likely ahead The ceasefire deal has paused the deadliest and most devastating fighting ever between Israel and Hamas, but there are fears the war will resume after the first phase ends. Hamas has said it will release four bodies next week, completing the first phase. After that, Hamas will hold about 60 hostages — about half believed to be alive. Talks on the ceasefire's second phase are yet to start, but negotiations are likely to be more difficult. Hamas has said it won't release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu, with the full backing of the Trump administration, says he's committed to destroying Hamas' military and governing capacities and returning all hostages, goals widely seen as mutually exclusive. An Israeli official said Netanyahu would meet with security advisers on Saturday evening about the ceasefire's future. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting had not been formally announced, said discussions would focus "on the goal of returning all our hostages, alive and dead." Freed hostages bring relief Cohen, Shem Tov and Wenkert were brought out wearing fake army uniforms, though they were not soldiers when abducted. "This is an unforgettable moment, where all emotions are rapidly mixing together," Shoham's family said, calling for a deal to free all still held. "There is a window of opportunity; we must not miss it." Shoham, who also holds Austrian citizenship, was visiting his family in Kibbutz Be'eri when Hamas stormed in. His wife and two young children were freed in a November 2023 exchange. Mengistu's family and friends broke out in song as they saw him for the first time in a decade. "Do you remember me?" one brother asked as they embraced. Niva Wenkert, Omer's mother, told Israel's Channel 12 that "on the surface, he looks OK, but there's no telling what's inside." As concerns grew over the remaining hostages, Ilan Gilboa Dalal, the father of captive Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan the family had received the first sign of life in eight months from a newly freed hostage who had been held with him. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners set for release The 620 Palestinian prisoners to be freed include 151 who were serving life or other sentences for violent attacks against Israelis. Almost 100 will be deported, according to the Palestinian prisoners' media office. A Palestinian prisoner rights association said they include Nael Barghouti, who spent over 45 years in prison for an attack that killed an Israeli bus driver. Also being released are 445 men; 18 children aged 15 to 17, and five aged 18 to 19; and a woman, all seized by Israeli troops in Gaza without charge during the war. Israel's military offensive has killed over 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. The Oct. 7 attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have died in the war.
Chicago Tribune
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Hamas frees 6 hostages but questions cloud Gaza ceasefire's future
TEL AVIV, Israel — Hamas on Saturday released the last six living hostages expected under the first phase of its ceasefire with Israel with a week remaining, as growing questions over the next phase clouded the fragile deal's future. The hostages included three Israeli men seized from the Nova music festival and another taken while visiting family in southern Israel when Hamas-led fighters stormed the border in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered Israel's 16-month military campaign in Gaza. The two other hostages were held for a decade after entering Gaza on their own. Five were handed over in staged ceremonies that the Red Cross and Israel have condemned as cruel and disrespectful, escorted by masked, armed Hamas fighters in front of hundreds of Palestinians. Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen were posed alongside Hamas fighters. A beaming Shem Tov kissed two fighters on the head and blew kisses to the crowd. Cohen's family and friends in Israel chanted 'Eliya! Eliya! Eliya!' and cheered. 'You're heroes,' Shem Tov told his parents as they later embraced, laughing and crying. 'You have no idea how much I dreamt of you.' Earlier Saturday, Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38, were freed. Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, entered Gaza in 2014. His family told Israeli media he has struggled with mental health issues. Later, Israel's military said Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, was released. The Bedouin Israeli entered Gaza in 2015. His family has told Israeli media he was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia. The release of over 600 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel — the largest one-day prisoner release in the ceasefire's first phase — was delayed, apparently for Israeli security consultations on Saturday evening. The hostage release followed a heartrending dispute sparked when Hamas on Thursday handed over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother abducted with her two young boys. The remains were determined to be those of a Palestinian woman. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge for 'a cruel and malicious violation,' while Hamas suggested it was a mistake. On Friday, the small group believed to have been holding Bibas and her sons — the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades — handed over a body that Bibas' family said Israeli forensic authorities confirmed was hers. 'Now that it's here, it brings no comfort, though we hope it marks the beginning of closure,' the family said. Hamas on Saturday denied Israeli claims it was responsible for the Bibas children's deaths, calling them lies aimed at justifying Israeli military actions against civilians in Gaza. Difficult talks likely over the ceasefire's next phase The ceasefire deal has paused the deadliest and most devastating fighting ever between Israel and Hamas, but there are fears the war will resume after the first phase ends. Hamas has said it will release four bodies next week, completing the first phase. After that, Hamas will hold about 60 hostages — about half believed to be alive. Talks on the ceasefire's second phase are yet to start, but negotiations are likely to be more difficult. Hamas has said it won't release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu, with the full backing of the Trump administration, says he's committed to destroying Hamas' military and governing capacities and returning all hostages, goals widely seen as mutually exclusive. An Israeli official said Netanyahu would meet with security advisers on Saturday evening about the ceasefire's future. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting had not been formally announced, said discussions would focus 'on the goal of returning all our hostages, alive and dead.' Freed hostages bring relief and a sign of life Cohen, Shem Tov and Wenkert were brought out wearing fake army uniforms, though they were not soldiers when abducted. 'This is an unforgettable moment, where all emotions are rapidly mixing together,' Shoham's family said, calling for a deal to free all still held. 'There is a window of opportunity; we must not miss it.' Shoham, who also holds Austrian citizenship, was visiting his family in Kibbutz Be'eri when Hamas fighters stormed in. His wife and two young children were freed in a November 2023 exchange. Mengistu's family and friends broke out in song as they saw him for the first time in a decade. 'Do you remember me?' one brother asked as they embraced. Niva Wenkert, Omer's mother, told Israel's Channel 12 that 'on the surface, he looks OK, but there's no telling what's inside.' As concerns grew over the remaining hostages, Ilan Gilboa Dalal, the father of captive Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan the family had received the first sign of life in eight months from a newly freed hostage who had been held with him. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners set for release The 620 Palestinian prisoners to be freed include 151 who were serving life or other sentences for violent attacks against Israelis. Almost 100 will be deported, according to the Palestinian prisoners' media office. A Palestinian prisoner rights association said they include Nael Barghouti, who spent over 45 years in prison for an attack that killed an Israeli bus driver. Also being released are 445 men; 18 children aged 15 to 17, and five aged 18 to 19; and a woman, all seized by Israeli troops in Gaza without charge during the war. Israel's military offensive has killed over 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. The Oct. 7 attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have died in the war. Originally Published: February 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM CST
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hamas frees first 5 of 6 Israeli hostages to be released in the latest exchange
Hamas freed the first five of six Israeli hostages due to be released Saturday even as heightened tension between the adversaries clouded the future of the fragile ceasefire deal. The five included three Israeli men seized while attending the Nova music festival and another abducted while visiting his family in southern Israel when militants stormed across the border in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks that triggered Israel's nearly 16-month campaign in Gaza. The fifth man released and the sixth due to be freed later Saturday have been held by Hamas for around a decade since they each entered Gaza on their own. They were handed over to the Red Cross in two separate ceremonies in Gaza, brought out on stages by masked, armed Hamas fighters in front of hundreds of Palestinians. In the central town of Nuseirat, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen were posed alongside fighters – and a beaming Shem Tov even kissed the militant next to him on the head and blew kisses to the crowd. They were then put in Red Cross vehicles and taken to Israeli troops. 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. The latest releases, to be followed by the freeing of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, are going ahead after tensions mounted over a grisly and heart-wrenching dispute triggered this week when Hamas initially handed over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother of two young boys abducted by militants. 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. 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. 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, are likely to be even more difficult. 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.' Shoham, who also holds Austrian citizenship, was visiting his wife's 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 broke out into a Hebrew song, 'Here is the Light,' as they saw him for the first time in more than a decade. The sixth hostage due to be freed later, 36-year-old Hisham al-Sayed, crossed into Gaza in 2015 and has been held since. More than 600 Palestinians jailed in Israel will be freed in exchange, the Palestinian prisoners media office said Friday. They include 50 serving life sentences, 60 with long sentences, 47 who were released under a previous hostage-for-prisoner exchange and 445 Palestinians who were seized by Israeli troops in Gaza since the war began. 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. 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. AP correspondents Abdel-Kareem Hana in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamas Hands over the First 2 of 6 Israeli Hostages to Be Freed in the Latest Exchange
Hamas freed the first two of six Israeli hostages due to be released Saturday even as heightened tension between the adversaries clouded the future of the fragile ceasefire deal. The two hostages — Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39 — were put into Red Cross ambulances after being brought out onto a stage by masked and armed Hamas fighters in front of a crowd in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Soon after, the Israeli military confirmed that the two had been brought into Israel. The latest hostage release, along with the freeing of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, is going ahead after tensions mounted over a grisly and heart-wrenching dispute triggered this week when Hamas initially handed over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother of two young boys abducted by the gunmen. 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. On Friday night, the small militant group believed to have been holding Bibas and her sons — the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades — said it handed over a second body. On Saturday morning, 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. The dispute over the body's identity raised new doubt about the ceasefire deal, which has paused over 15 months of 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, are likely to be even more difficult. The six hostages being freed Saturday are the last living ones to be released under the ceasefire's first phase. 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 broke out into a Hebrew song, 'Here is the Light,' as they saw him for the first time in more than a decade. Shoham, from the northern Israeli village of Ma'ale Tzviya, was visiting his wife's family in Kibbutz Be'eri when Hamas fighters stormed into the community during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. The family of Tal Shoham told Israeli media they were 'starting to breathe again' after seeing him on the stage. Shoham's wife, two young children, and three other relatives who had been abducted with him were freed in a November 2023 exchange. The others to be freed include Eliya Cohen, 27; Omer Shem Tov, 22; and Omer Wenkert, 23. All three were abducted from a music festival during the Oct. 7 attack. Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, who also crossed into Gaza on his own years ago, is also to be returned to Israel as part of the deal. More than 600 Palestinians jailed in Israel will be freed in exchange, the Palestinian prisoners media office said Friday. The prisoners set for release include 50 serving life sentences, 60 with long sentences, 47 who were released under a previous hostage-for-prisoner exchange and 445 prisoners from Gaza arrested since the war began. 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. Trump's proposal to remove about 2 million Palestinians from Gaza so the US can own and rebuild it has thrown the ceasefire into further doubt. His idea has been welcomed by Netanyahu but universally rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries. Trump said Friday that he was 'a little surprised' by rejections of the proposal by Egypt and Jordan and that he would not impose it. 'I'll tell you, the way to do it is my plan. I think that's the plan that really works. But I'm not forcing it. I'm just going to sit back and recommend it,' Trump said in a Fox News interview. 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.
Sky News
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas has been returned, her family confirms
The body of hostage Shiri Bibas has been returned, her family has confirmed. The remains were released by Hamas overnight and Israel's army radio earlier said they had been identified as the Israeli mother-of-two. The radio station said that Ms Bibas was likely to have been killed while in captivity with her two young sons, four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir. Israel said on Thursday that Ms Bibas was not among the four bodies handed over on Thursday as part of the ceasefire agreement, instead receiving an "anonymous body without identification". The failure to hand over the correct body caused outrage in Israel, and prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow that Hamas"pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation". In a short statement on Friday, the Red Cross confirmed it had received human remains and transferred them to Israeli authorities. The statement did not specify whose remains were believed to be in transit. Dr Salem Attalah, deputy secretary general for the Palestinian Mujahedeen Brigades, also said it handed over Ms Bibas' remains to the Red Cross. The militant group is thought to have been holding the mother and her two children. Hamas previously claimed there was the "possibility of an error or overlap in the bodies" which may have been caused by Israel "targeting and bombing the place where the family was with other Palestinians". 1:11 Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, later said "unfortunate mistakes" occurred and also suggested Israeli bombing had mixed the bodies of Israeli hostages and Palestinians. He added in a statement: "We confirm that it is not in our values or our interest to keep any bodies or not to abide by the covenants and agreements that we sign." Ms Bibas was kidnapped with her sons from the Niz Or kibbutz during the group's terror attack on Israel in October 2023. 1:10 The IDF confirmed the bodies of the two boys were positively identified on Thursday. However, it claimed the children had been murdered by Hamas with "bare hands". Hamas however claimed Ms Bibas and her children were all killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, near the start of the war. It comes ahead of the next round of hostage releases later today - the final one during the first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect last month. The hostages due for release are Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al Sayed and Avera Mengisto. According to the Hamas prisoners' media office, Israel will be releasing 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, adding to the hundreds already released.
