Israel Awaits Handover of Six Hostages from Gaza in Prisoner Exchange
Israel is preparing to receive six more hostages from Gaza as part of an ongoing prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
The swap, expected to take place at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) on Saturday, will see Israel release 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in return.
This latest exchange is part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement reached last month, aimed at securing the release of 33 hostages held in Gaza. The six individuals set for release include:
- Eliya Cohen, 27
- Tal Shoham, 40
- Omer Shem Tov, 22
- Omer Wenkert, 23
These four were taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Additionally, two long-time captives, Hisham Al-Sayed, 36, and Avera Mengistu, 39, who entered Gaza under unclear circumstances nearly a decade ago, are also among those being freed.
Tensions Over Misidentified Body
The prisoner exchange has been overshadowed by a controversy regarding the remains of hostage Shiri Bibas.
Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire after an unidentified body was returned instead of Bibas’ remains, which were supposed to be handed over along with those of her two young sons.
Hamas responded, stating that Bibas’ remains were mistakenly mixed with others recovered from rubble following an Israeli airstrike in November 2023.
On Friday, Hamas handed over another body, which Israeli forensic experts are now working to identify.
Israel Threatens Retaliation but Ceasefire Holds
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the mix-up and warned Hamas of severe consequences.
However, he stopped short of abandoning the ceasefire, which has been in effect since January 19, 2025.
Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the truce by blocking humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza.
Despite the rising tensions, Hamas officially informed Israel of the six hostages set for release, signaling that the exchange will proceed as planned.
The prisoner swap remains a delicate issue, with both sides walking a fine line between diplomacy and conflict.
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