Hamas offers to release all captives for end to Israel’s war on Gaza
Al Jazeera3 days ago
Hamas Frees Final Six Hostages in First Phase of Cease-Fire
Above: Tal Shoham (L) and Avera Mengistu. Image copyright: Ali Jadallah/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday, including three men captured from the Nova music festival during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, one taken from Kibbutz Beeri, and two others who had been held in Gaza for nearly a decade.
The releases took place in three locations: Rafah (Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu), Nuseirat (Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert), and Gaza City (Hisham al-Sayed), with the first five hostages being released in ceremonial events while al-Sayed was handed over without ceremony.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel has agreed to release 620 Palestinian prisoners, including 445 detained during the current war and dozens serving life sentences.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
The cease-fire deal had paused the war, but as the first phase ended rather successfully, Hamas is ready to move to the second phase and release the remaining captives if the right concessions are made. However, true peace can only come through recognizing Palestinian sovereignty and ending the blockade on Gaza.
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel can only agree to the cease-fire deal's second phase if Hamas releases all the hostages, the group's military and governing capacities are destroyed, and the Palestinian Authority is barred from the post-war management of the Gaza Strip.