Liam May || Issue 14 || February 25, 2025
On Saturday 2/22/2025, Hamas released the final six living Israeli hostages as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire, which began last month, has seen a total of 192 hostages returned to Israel, with 147 alive and 45 deceased. The hostages freed include Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Tal Shoham, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham
Al-Sayed. In return, Israel was set to release approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, the largest group since
the start of the ceasefire. However, the release of these prisoners has been delayed without explanation, causing frustration and concern among the families of the detainees. The exchange was also preceded by the return of the body of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother whose remains were initially misidentified earlier on the 20th. This tragic mix-up caused significant outrage and condemnation in Israel, further straining both sides and the fragile ceasefire.
The hostages were released in separate locations within Gaza, including the city of Rafah in the south and the Nuseirat refugee camp in the center of the enclave. Stages were set up in each location, surrounded by Hamas fighters and crowds of onlookers. The hostages were handed over to Red Cross officials in a series of signing ceremonies, after which they were transported to Israeli custody. The ceasefire is nearing the end of its first phase, and negotiations for the next phase are expected to be challenging. Both sides will need to navigate the complexities of prisoner releases, hostage exchanges, and maintaining peace in a region fraught with tension and historical grievances.
The Hudsonian 