Hamas has released three more Israeli hostages in the fifth such swap of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy were freed this morning in front of a crowd of heavily armed fighters.
Both Mr Ami, 56, and Mr Sharabi, 52, were taken from Kibbutz Be’eri during the 7 October attack. Mr Levy, 34, was abducted from the Nova music festival.
The cross-border attack saw around 1,200 Israelis killed and around 250 people taken hostage.
In return for the captives’ release, 183 Palestinian prisoners are due to be released – some of which are convicted of being involved in attacks that killed dozens of people and including 18 serving life sentences.
Gaza ceasefire latest: Live updates as Hamas releases three Israeli hostages
Masked and armed Hamas fighters. Pic: AP
The Israeli hostages, who appeared thin, were paraded in front of dozens of masked and armed Hamas fighters, as well as a small crowd of onlookers.
They were then handed over to the International Red Cross Committee, which transported them to Israeli forces in Gaza.
It is feared US President Donald Trump’s proposal to move the Palestinian population out of Gaza so the US could take over could complicate the second and more difficult phase of the ceasefire.
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What’s in the ceasefire deal?
The Israel-Hamas war in numbers
Some 18 Israeli hostages and more than 550 Palestinian prisoners have been freed since the ceasefire began on 19 January.
Under the deal, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in an initial stage in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Negotiations on a second phase of the deal began this week. It is aimed at returning the remaining hostages and agreeing to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in preparation to end the war.
Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 47,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
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