After 505 days in Gaza, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen, who were kidnapped from the Nova music festival, along with Tal Shoham, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri, were released alongside Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held in the Gaza Strip for over a decade. All are now back home, in Israel.
First, Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu were freed and are now back in Israel after reaching IDF forces in the Gaza Strip. Earlier, they were handed over to the Red Cross in Rafah and brought onto a stage set up by Hamas while standing on their feet.
Afterwards, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen were released. Additionally, a security source noted that preparations are underway for the release of Hisham al-Sayed at a third handover point, which is expected to be in Gaza City. Al Jazeera reported that his transfer will not include a "ceremony."
Hisham al-Sayed has also returned to Israel after being handed over to the Red Cross at a third-party transfer point in Gaza City, this time, without a "ceremony."
As part of the psychological terror spectacle marking the hostage handover, Hamas terrorists in Rafah have set up a stage adorned with banners containing provocative messages and imagery aimed at goading Israel. The terrorists have been filmed standing in formation under the pouring rain, armed with long rifles.
Images emerging from Gaza, similar to previous hostage releases, show armed Hamas terrorists surrounding the stages, which are decorated with propaganda posters featuring images of senior terrorists eliminated during the war, along with messages in Hebrew.
As in previous exchanges, the hostages will first be transferred to the Red Cross, which will then hand them over to IDF forces inside the Gaza Strip. From there, they will be taken to the Re'im military base before undergoing medical evaluations at hospitals.
Hamas has stated that the release of hostages underscores its commitment to the agreement and accused Israel of delaying the implementation of its terms. "We reaffirm our readiness to move to the second phase of the deal and complete a comprehensive exchange process [hostage deal] in order to reach a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal [from Gaza]," the official statement read.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem, added that there is "full seriousness within Hamas" to complete all stages of the hostage deal and carry out a single release in the second phase of the deal, in exchange for Israel's commitment to an extended ceasefire, withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of terrorists from prison.
