Hamas releases six Israeli captives, asserts readiness for next phase of swap deal

The Gaza-based movement submitted the six Israeli prisoners to the International Red Cross in the southern city of Rafah on Saturday, in the seventh batch of the first phase of the ceasefire deal clinched in mid-January.

The first handover, including two Israeli prisoners, took place in Rafah, where Hamas raised a banner in the exchange site that read, "We are the flood, we are the extreme strength."

Palestinian Ma'an News Agency reported that the exchanges had been arranged by the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, in two locations, with the first in Rafah and the second in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip.

The two Israeli captives, Tal Shoham and Avra Mengistu, were handed over to a team from the International Red Cross in Rafah.

Hamas had earlier confirmed that it would release the six Israeli captives, Elia Maimon Yitzhak Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Finkert, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham al-Sayed, in exchange for 602 Palestinian prisoners and abductees.

The Israeli regime’s officials announced on Saturday the names of the Palestinian prisoners scheduled to be released under the new round of exchange deal.

The Media Office of Hamas said 50 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, 60 prisoners with long sentences, and 47 detainees who had been arrested by the regime would be released. The office pointed out that 445 prisoners from the Gaza Strip who had been abducted after October 7, 2023 will also be released.

In a statement on Saturday, Hamas underlined the resistance movement’s readiness for the next phase of swap deal and said the completion of exchange operation for six captives once again confirmed Hamas’ commitment to the agreement while the regime of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to stall in implementing its terms.