Hamas Accelerates Hostage Release to Prevent Stalemate in Prisoner Exchange
The Hamas terrorist organization has reportedly proposed an early release of some of its hostages to prevent last-minute complications in the release of dozens of its high-ranking members from Israeli prisons. According to US news outlet Axios, both Hamas and the Israeli government have concerns that the initial six-week ceasefire phase may not hold until early March as agreed, leaving critical demands unfulfilled.
In an attempt to avert a potential breakdown, Hamas has suggested advancing the release of three hostages by one week, freeing them alongside three others this Saturday, Axios reported, citing two Israeli officials. In return, over 100 Palestinian prisoners, including 47 senior Hamas operatives, would be set free.
Prior to the release of the six hostages, the remains of four others will be handed over on Thursday, according to senior Hamas official Khalil al-Haya. Among them are a mother and two toddler children with German citizenship.
Israel’s government has confirmed the agreement, which was brokered by Qatar and Egypt as intermediaries between the warring parties. In exchange for the hostage remains, Israel will reportedly release all women and minors who have been detained since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023 and are deemed not to have been involved in armed combat against Israel.
The Forum of Hostage Families in Israel released the names of the six hostages scheduled for release on Saturday. They are three men abducted during the October 7, 2023, Islamist terrorist attack on the Nova music festival in southern Israel: Omer Shem-Tov (22), Omer Wenkert (23), and Elijah Cohen (27). Also included are Tal Shoham (40), who was taken from a kibbutz on the same day, and two long-term hostages, Hisham al-Sayed (36) and Avera Mengistu (39), who have been held in the Gaza Strip for a decade.
Al-Sayed is an Israeli Arab who, according to the Hostage Forum, suffers from mental health issues. He crossed the border into the Gaza Strip independently in 2015. The same applies to Mengistu, who has been in Hamas captivity since 2014. He is also reportedly mentally ill.
In total, the first phase of the agreement will see the release of eight individuals, including the six hostages on Saturday and eight fatalities, four of whom will be handed over during the sixth week of the ceasefire, according to Hamas official al-Haya. He also mentioned preparations for negotiations regarding a second phase of the deal.
The first phase is set to end in less than two weeks. Reports indicate that, despite the agreement, neither side has yet engaged in serious negotiations on the second phase of the deal, which is expected to lead to a permanent end to the war and the release of the remaining live hostages. Israeli media, citing Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, reported that talks are expected to begin this week.
Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Palestinian authorities in Gaza reported deaths from Israeli fire. Tanks allegedly opened fire on Palestinians in the southern city of Rafah, killing two individuals, according to a local clinic. Israel’s military stated that troops fired warning shots at an approaching figure and then opened fire again when the suspect failed to retreat. The military did not provide information on potential casualties.
Later in the evening, the Israeli military announced that it had attacked weapons depots set up by the toppled Syrian regime in southern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported loud explosions following the strike on an arms depot. Since the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in early December, Israel has significantly increased its attacks in the neighboring country, primarily to destroy military equipment. Following the seizure of power by Islamist rebels, troops have also been deployed to the Syrian border area. Israel justifies its internationally criticized actions on security grounds.
