Hamas has published six other hostages detained in Gaza, in exchange for the release of 602 Palestinian prisoners later on Saturday.
The released hostages included four kidnapped during the attack on October 7, 2023 on Israel – Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert.
The other two liberated men, Avera Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayed, have been detained in Gaza for years-Mr. Mengistu since 2014 and Mr. Al-Sayed since 2015.
The six are the last hostages still alive to be returned as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement which will end next Saturday. Israel and Hamas have not yet agreed with the terms of a second phase.
Later on Saturday, 602 Palestinian prisoners should be released, the majority of whom were detained after the attack on October 7, 2023.
The BBC includes that published people will include 50 prisoners serving perpetuity sentences and 60 with high sentences, according to a press release from the Palestinian prisoner media office.
The bodies of four other hostages should be transferred to Israel next week in what is supposed to be the last stage of the first phase of the ceasefire.
There are 59 hostages still held by Hamas, about half of which would be alive. Others are expected to be released in the next phase of the ceasefire in three stages between Israel and Hamas, which is expected to start on March 1.
Hamas began to get out of the hostages, facilitated by the Red Cross, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in January. The initial chaotic scenes become more choreographed, with hostages flanked by fighters on scenes before transfers.
Mr. Shoham, 40, and Mr. Mengistu, 39, were transmitted to the Red Cross in Rafah, in the south of Gaza before being transferred to the Israeli defense forces (IDF).
Mr. Shoham visited his family to Kibbutz Be’eri in October 2023 while he and others, including his wife and two children, were kidnapped by Hamas. His family members captured were released after 50 days.
In a press release, his family said: “It’s an unforgettable moment, when all the emotions are mixed quickly. Our tal is with us.”
Mr. Mengistu, who is Ethiopian-Israeli, had been held by Hamas since September 2014 when he crossed North Gaza.
He and Mr. Al-Sayed, an Arab Israeli Bedouin who entered Gaza in 2015, both suffered from mental health problems in the past, according to their families.
After his release, Mr. Mengistu’s family said he had endured “10 years and five months of unimaginable suffering”.
In addition, in Nuseirat in the center of Gaza, Mr. Shem Tov, 22, Mr. Cohen, 27, and Mr. Wenkert, 23, were released in another public show by Hamas.
All three were caught in captivity at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023.
Mr. Shem Tov had initially escaped by car when the Hamas fighters went down to the festival, but were captured when he returned to rescue his friends.
Mr. Cohen had hidden with his girlfriend, Ziv Abud, in a festival shelter, but was discovered and chased. The shelter was bombed, but Mrs. Abud survived and escaped.
Wenkert managed to send sms to his family when the festival -goers were attacked, to tell them that he was going in a safe refuge, but they lost contact with him.
Mr. Al-Sayed was released in private in Gaza City later on Saturday.
Crowds in the hostages of Tel Aviv praised public outings with Cheers when they watched them take place on a live flow.
Families celebrating the return of the six men called for the release of all the remaining hostages.
“Our only request is to enter this window of opportunity to conclude an agreement which … will return all hostages at home,” said Mr. Shoham’s family.
The remaining hostages include Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier captured on October 7.
His mother, Yael Alexander, who looked at the release of the hostages on Saturday, told the BBC that he was “incredible” to see them released, but for his family, it is “very hard” pending.
“There are more dozens of young living men like my son, still waiting to be released,” she said. “This is the main objective, to release people live now from Gaza.”
The joyful scenes on Saturday contrasts this week earlier this week, when the hostages Shiri Bibas, his two young sons and another Oded Lifschitz captive were returned to Israel.
