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| Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release as hostages freed | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tal Shoham was released after being kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October, 2023 | Tal Shoham was released after being kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October, 2023 |
| Six Israeli hostages, including four kidnapped during the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, were released on Saturday. | Six Israeli hostages, including four kidnapped during the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, were released on Saturday. |
| Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert were taken captive during the Nova musical festival. | Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert were taken captive during the Nova musical festival. |
| The two other released hostages, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, were held in Gaza for years - Mr Mengistu since 2014 and Mr al-Sayed since 2015. | The two other released hostages, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, were held in Gaza for years - Mr Mengistu since 2014 and Mr al-Sayed since 2015. |
| In the early hours of Sunday morning, Israel said it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners that were due to be freed in exchange. | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that they won't be freed until the next release of hostages is guaranteed. | |
| Netanyahu accused Hamas of "repeated violations", including the "cynical use of the hostages for propaganda purposes" and "ceremonies that demean the dignity of our hostages". | |
| The six Israeli hostages released on Saturday are the final living hostages to be returned as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal which is set to end next Saturday. Israel and Hamas have yet to agree the terms of a second phase. | The six Israeli hostages released on Saturday are the final living hostages to be returned as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal which is set to end next Saturday. Israel and Hamas have yet to agree the terms of a second phase. |
| The bodies of four more hostages are expected to be transferred to Israel next week in what is supposed to be the final step in the first phase of the ceasefire. | The bodies of four more hostages are expected to be transferred to Israel next week in what is supposed to be the final step in the first phase of the ceasefire. |
| There are 62 hostages taken on 7 October 2023 who are still being held by Hamas, around half of whom are believed to be alive. More are set to be freed in the next phase of the three-stage ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which is scheduled to start on 1 March. | There are 62 hostages taken on 7 October 2023 who are still being held by Hamas, around half of whom are believed to be alive. More are set to be freed in the next phase of the three-stage ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which is scheduled to start on 1 March. |
| Hamas began releasing hostages, facilitated by the Red Cross, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in January. | Hamas began releasing hostages, facilitated by the Red Cross, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in January. |
| Initial chaotic scenes become more choreographed, with hostages flanked by fighters on stages before the handovers. | Initial chaotic scenes become more choreographed, with hostages flanked by fighters on stages before the handovers. |
| Mr Shoham, 40, and Mr Mengistu, 39, were passed to the Red Cross in Rafah, south Gaza before being transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). | Mr Shoham, 40, and Mr Mengistu, 39, were passed to the Red Cross in Rafah, south Gaza before being transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). |
| Mr Shoham was visiting family at Kibbutz Be'eri in October 2023 when he and others, including his wife and two children, were kidnapped by Hamas. His captured family members were released after 50 days. | Mr Shoham was visiting family at Kibbutz Be'eri in October 2023 when he and others, including his wife and two children, were kidnapped by Hamas. His captured family members were released after 50 days. |
| In a statement, his family said: "This is an unforgettable moment, where all emotions are rapidly mixing together. Our Tal is with us." | In a statement, his family said: "This is an unforgettable moment, where all emotions are rapidly mixing together. Our Tal is with us." |
| Avera Mengistu reunites with his family | Avera Mengistu reunites with his family |
| Mr Mengistu, who is Ethiopian-Israeli, had been held by Hamas since September 2014 when he crossed into northern Gaza. | Mr Mengistu, who is Ethiopian-Israeli, had been held by Hamas since September 2014 when he crossed into northern Gaza. |
| He and Mr al-Sayed, a Bedouin Arab Israeli who entered Gaza in 2015, had both suffered with mental health problems in the past, according to their families. | He and Mr al-Sayed, a Bedouin Arab Israeli who entered Gaza in 2015, had both suffered with mental health problems in the past, according to their families. |
| Mr al-Sayed's release was conducted privately in Gaza City on Saturday. | Mr al-Sayed's release was conducted privately in Gaza City on Saturday. |
| "After nearly a decade of fighting for Hisham's return, the long-awaited moment has arrived," his family said in a statement. | "After nearly a decade of fighting for Hisham's return, the long-awaited moment has arrived," his family said in a statement. |
| "During these days, we need privacy for Hisham and the entire family so we can begin to care for Hisham and ourselves." | "During these days, we need privacy for Hisham and the entire family so we can begin to care for Hisham and ourselves." |
| Hisham al-Sayed walking with a member of the Red Cross after his release | Hisham al-Sayed walking with a member of the Red Cross after his release |
| Separately, at Nuseirat in central Gaza, Mr Shem Tov, 22, Mr Cohen, 27, and Mr Wenkert, 23, were freed in another public show by Hamas. | Separately, at Nuseirat in central Gaza, Mr Shem Tov, 22, Mr Cohen, 27, and Mr Wenkert, 23, were freed in another public show by Hamas. |
| All three were taken captive at the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023. | All three were taken captive at the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023. |
| Mr Shem Tov had initially escaped by car when Hamas fighters descended on the festival, but was captured when he went back to rescue his friends. | Mr Shem Tov had initially escaped by car when Hamas fighters descended on the festival, but was captured when he went back to rescue his friends. |
| Mr Cohen had hid with his girlfriend, Ziv Abud, in a shelter at the festival, but was discovered and driven away. The shelter was bombed, but Ms Abud survived and escaped. | Mr Cohen had hid with his girlfriend, Ziv Abud, in a shelter at the festival, but was discovered and driven away. The shelter was bombed, but Ms Abud survived and escaped. |
| Mr Wenkert managed to send text messages to his family when festival-goers were being attacked, to tell them he was going to a safe shelter, but they lost contact with him. | Mr Wenkert managed to send text messages to his family when festival-goers were being attacked, to tell them he was going to a safe shelter, but they lost contact with him. |
| Omer Shem Tov returned to Petah Tikva, Israel, on Saturday | Omer Shem Tov returned to Petah Tikva, Israel, on Saturday |
| Eliya Cohen wore a "grateful" hat after he was released | Eliya Cohen wore a "grateful" hat after he was released |
| Omer Wenkert during his release in Gaza | Omer Wenkert during his release in Gaza |
| Family members and supporters of Omer Wenkert reacted to his release | Family members and supporters of Omer Wenkert reacted to his release |
| Crowds in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square greeted the public releases with cheers as they watched them unfold on a live feed. | Crowds in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square greeted the public releases with cheers as they watched them unfold on a live feed. |
| Families celebrating the return of the six men called for all remaining hostages to be released. | Families celebrating the return of the six men called for all remaining hostages to be released. |
| "Our only request is to seize this window of opportunity to secure a deal that will... return all hostages home," Mr Shoham's family said. | "Our only request is to seize this window of opportunity to secure a deal that will... return all hostages home," Mr Shoham's family said. |
| Remaining hostages include Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier captured on 7 October. | Remaining hostages include Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier captured on 7 October. |
| His mother, Yael Alexander, who was watching Saturday's hostage release, told the BBC it was "amazing" to see them freed, but for her family it is "very tough" waiting. | His mother, Yael Alexander, who was watching Saturday's hostage release, told the BBC it was "amazing" to see them freed, but for her family it is "very tough" waiting. |
| "There are more than dozens of young men alive, like my son, still waiting to be released," she said. "This is the main goal, to release the live people now from Gaza." | "There are more than dozens of young men alive, like my son, still waiting to be released," she said. "This is the main goal, to release the live people now from Gaza." |
| Saturday's joyful scenes contrasted with earlier this week, when the bodies of hostages Shiri Bibas, her two young sons and another captive Oded Lifschitz were returned to Israel. | Saturday's joyful scenes contrasted with earlier this week, when the bodies of hostages Shiri Bibas, her two young sons and another captive Oded Lifschitz were returned to Israel. |