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Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39 were the first to be released on Saturday, followed by Omer Wenkert, 23; Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Eliya Cohen, 27
Terror group parades Israeli hostages in front of cheering crowd before release
Hamas freed six hostages on Saturday in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of the fragile ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The first two men released were identified as Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39. Video footage showed the two men looking frail and scared as they were taken to a stage in front of a crowd while flanked by masked gunmen. They were handed over to the Red Cross and were on their way to the IDF.
An additional three hostages – Omer Wenkert, 23; Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Eliya Cohen, 27 – were subsequently released in the central town of Nuseirat. They were dressed in fake army uniforms, though they were not soldiers when they were kidnapped.
The three were put in Red Cross vehicles that then headed for Israel.
Continued below.
Hamas releases more hostages in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of ceasefire deal
Hamas freed more hostages on Saturday in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of the delicate ceasefire agreement with Israel.
