Gaza Resistance releases 6 Israeli captives in seventh exchange
6 Min Read
Our correspondent says the handover of Israeli captives Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu took place today for the first time in the city of Rafah, "a stone's throw" away from the Israeli military.
-
Israeli captives Avera Mengistu (4th-R) and Tal Shoham (2nd-L) are flanked by Palestinian Hamas fighters as they stand on a stage during their release in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 22, 2025 (AFP)
The Palestinian Resistance was to hand over Saturday six Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), marking the seventh batch in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
On Friday, Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, identified the Israeli captives set to be released as Eliya Cohen, Omar Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham al-Sayed.
The first handover took place in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, where the Resistance raised a banner at the exchange site reading, "We Are The Flood... We Are The Extreme Might."
During the exchange in Rafah, hundreds of fighters from the al-Qassam Brigades, deployed throughout the area where the captives were released.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the handover of Tal Shoham and Mengistu took place today for the first time in the city of Rafah, just "a stone's throw" away from the Israeli military's presence.
Our correspondent also reported that the Resistance placed six pieces of Israeli weapons on the platform, which were seized by the al-Qassam Brigades during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
The Israeli occupation military confirmed that Shoham and Mengistu had reached "Israel" after being escorted out of the Gaza Strip by special Israeli forces.
As for the second handover, it took place in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, where the Resistance raised another banner reading: "The Land Distinguishes Its People From The Dual Nationality Foreigners."
The handover saw the Resistance releasing Shem Tov, Cohen, and Wenkert. Later, the Israeli military said the ICRC received captive Hisham al-Sayed in Gaza City.
In exchange for the release of the Israeli captives, the Israeli authorities will release 50 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, 60 prisoners serving long-term sentences, and 47 prisoners who were freed as part of the "Wafa al-Ahrar" exchange deal but were re-arrested by the Israeli occupation forces.
Additionally, 445 detainees from the Gaza Strip, who were abducted after October 7, 2023, will also be released today, according to the Prisoners' Information Office.
Our correspondent said that in Ofer prison, Palestinian prisoners and detainees who are to be released are being gathered, most of whom will be transferred to the Gaza Strip.
She added that Israeli military reinforcements have been deployed inside and outside the prison.
Last night, the occupation forces raided the homes of a number of detainees in the West Bank who are to be released today, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.
Hamas handed over body of Israeli captive Shiri Bibas after mix-up
In a related context, Israeli media reported Saturday that Hamas handed over the body of detainee Shiri Bibas, after mistakenly delivering an unidentified body due to confusion between the corpses.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Bibas was captured on October 7, 2023, confirmed Saturday her death following an identification process at the forensic institute.
The ICRC had announced receiving the remains from Hamas and transferring them to Israeli authorities, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN).
The remains were transferred to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute where they were examined, KAN said.
The Israeli news site Walla reported that "Israeli assessments suggest that Hamas did not intentionally withhold Bibas' body, but mistakenly delivered another body."
The Israeli military said on Friday that one of the bodies received during the Thursday exchange did not belong to detainee Shiri Bibas.
Later, Hamas confirmed that it had received the occupation's claims through mediators, adding that it will examine these claims thoroughly and will announce the results clearly.
The Palestinian group noted the possibility of an "error" or "confusion" between the bodies, which may have resulted from the occupation military's targeting and bombing of the location where the Bibas family was with other Palestinians.
Hamas says guarantee for completing upcoming exchanges is 'Israel's' commitment
Additionally, Hamas stated Saturday that the Palestinian Resistance's accomplishment of exchanging six captives today reaffirms its commitment to the agreement, while the occupation continues to delay its implementation.
The group highlighted that "the handover, in this national scene, reflects the unity of our people and factions, while the occupation is experiencing fragmentation and mutual accusations."
It also emphasized its readiness to move to the second phase of the agreement and its preparedness to complete the comprehensive exchange process, ensuring a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, warning against any Israeli attempts to renege on the agreement.
On his part, Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanoua stressed that the Resistance will continue to complete the exchange operations and compel the Israeli occupation to implement the remaining terms of the agreement, clarifying that the guarantee for completing the upcoming exchange operations is "Israel's" commitment to the remaining provisions of the agreement and the implementation of the humanitarian protocol.
He mentioned that 33 days have passed in the first phase without the occupation completing all its terms, pointing out that the situation in Gaza is "catastrophic", which requires mediators to pressure "Israel" to implement the humanitarian protocol and provide residents with the necessary supplies for shelter and relief.
Al-Qanoua reiterated that Hamas is ready to complete a broad and comprehensive exchange process, all in one batch, based on a permanent cessation of the war, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, and the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave.
Meanwhile, Hazem Qassem, another Hamas spokesperson, stressed that the reconstruction of Gaza must be carried out through national consensus, affirming that the Resistance will not allow any external force to interfere in this matter.
Read more: Hamas accuses Netanyahu of stalling 2nd phase of ceasefire agreement
