Hamas releases 3 prisoners

Hamas released three Israeli men from captivity in Gaza on Saturday in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners, as a fragile ceasefire entered its third week.

The Israelis were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross during a meticulously staged ceremony in Deir al-Balah, a relatively intact part of the Gaza Strip.

These individuals had been abducted from their homes and a music festival during the attack by the Palestinian militant group on Israel on October 7, 2023, an incident that resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, according to Israeli authorities.

56 year old Ohad Ben Ami, Or 34 year old Levy, and 52 year old Eli Sharabi, appeared gaunt and pale as Hamas displayed them onstage alongside its armed fighters.

Shortly thereafter, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the ceasefire terms. Some appeared emaciated in footage aired by Arab media, and seven were taken to hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent.