Hamas releases final hostage in latest exchange under Gaza ceasefire
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The Israeli military confirmed on Saturday that Hamas had freed the sixth and final hostage in the latest prisoner exchange, marking the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
While the identity of the hostage was not immediately disclosed, it is believed to be Hisham Al-Sayed, a 36-year-old Bedouin Israeli who crossed into Gaza voluntarily in 2015 and had been held in captivity since then.
Earlier in the day, five other Israeli hostages were handed over in staged ceremonies, a practice that has previously been condemned by both Israel and the Red Cross. The final hostage was released separately in the afternoon without any formal ceremony.
In total, 25 Israeli hostages have been released as part of the first stage of the ceasefire agreement.
The Red Cross, which facilitated the transfer, confirmed receiving the final hostage before he was handed over to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) personnel in the Gaza Strip. Negotiations continue for the release of more hostages as part of the ongoing ceasefire process.