Hamas began releasing more Israeli hostages on Saturday, handing over five to the Red Cross in two separate ceremonies in Gaza. Israel is set to free about 600 Palestinian detainees in return.
Earlier, Hamas handed over the remains of Shiri Bibas, the Israeli mother whose capture with her two young sons during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack became a symbol of Israel’s anguish. Hamas delivered a body on Thursday that it initially said was that of Ms. Bibas. But testing in Israel found that it was not hers, angering Israelis and putting pressure on Hamas to hand over the correct remains.
The first two hostages freed on Saturday, Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham, were handed over in the southern city of Rafah. The Israeli military said the two men had crossed into Israel and would receive medical assessme
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