Hundreds of people participated in a rally on Feb. 20, 2025, in the Hostages' Square of Tel Aviv, following the delivery of the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir. EFE/ Magda Gibelli

Hamas to release 6 Israeli hostages as prisoner swap crisis clouds Gaza truce

Jerusalem, Feb 21 (EFE).- Hamas’s armed wing Friday said it will release six Israeli hostages, despite escalating tensions following the handover of a misidentified body the previous day.

The hostages, Eliya Maimon Yitzhak Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkrat, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham al Sayed, were named in a statement by Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida to be freed on Saturday.

On Thursday, Hamas handed over a body to the Red Cross, which was believed to be that of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas. However, Israeli authorities later confirmed the remains did not match hers. EFE

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