Hamas frees 6 hostages in latest swap with Israel

photo credit: France24

Hamas freed six hostages on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel.

The release included three Israeli men captured during the attack at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and one other individual abducted while visiting family in southern Israel.

The hostages had been held for varying lengths of time, with two of them having been in captivity for nearly a decade.

The release took place through coordinated efforts between Hamas and Israel, with both public and private ceremonies marking the event.

However, both the Red Cross and Israel criticized the ceremonies, calling them staged.

Negotiations between the two sides have been intense, with each having distinct demands. However, the specific details of the discussions remain undisclosed.

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