Hamas Releases Three Israeli Hostages as Gaza Truce Proceeds
- Israel releases 183 Palestinian prisoners in fifth exchange
- Ceasefire ends third week, with indirect talks on next phase
Palestinian Hamas fighters escort Eli Sharabi on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on Feb. 8.
Photographer: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Hamas released three Israeli civilian men it held hostage in Gaza for the past 16 months, and Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners as the tenuous Gaza ceasefire ends its third week.
The handover occurred in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, where armed and masked Hamas militants guarded a stage adorned with banners mocking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aim of victory over the Islamist group. Patriotic music blared from speakers.