Hamas releases three Israeli hostages

Israel and Hamas completed their fifth hostage-prisoner exchange under a ceasefire deal on February 8th, according to Arab News via AFP.

Out of the 183 inmates freed by Israel in exchange, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group said seven needed to be hospitalized and condemned the brutality and maltreatment in prison.

The fifth exchange since the truce was implemented in January comes as talks were to start for the next phase of the ceasefire, which would lay the foundations for a permanent end of the war.

Crowds in Tel Aviv cheered when watching live footage of the hostages with masked gunmen by their side, going on stage in Deir El-Balah before going to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Arab News via AFP