Hamas hands over six Israeli captives in latest prisoner exchange

GAZA CITY — Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, handed over six Israeli captives to the Red Cross on Saturday at three locations in Gaza as part of the seventh prisoner exchange under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19.

Two captives were released in Rafah, southern Gaza: Tal Shoham, identified as an operative in the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, and Avera Mengistu, who was captured in 2014 after crossing into Gaza under unclear circumstances.

Later, three more captives —Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem-Tov, and Omer Wenkert— were released in Nuseirat, in central Gaza.

The sixth captive, Hisham Al-Sayed, a Palestinian with Israeli citizenship who was also captured in 2014 under unknown circumstances, was released later in the day without a formal ceremony.

Representatives of the Red Cross signed an official transfer protocol with Al-Qassam Brigades, ensuring the safe handover of the captives.

The Israeli army confirmed in a statement that it had received the captives, who were en route to Tel Aviv for initial medical evaluations.

In return, 602 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons will be released as part of the exchange.

The ceasefire deal, implemented last month, temporarily halted Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which have killed more than 48,000 people, mostly women and children, and devastated the enclave.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the enclave. — Agencies