DEIR EL-BALAH:Israel and Hamas successfully carried out their fifth prisoner-hostage exchange under a fragile ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday. However, the frail and disoriented condition of the three released Israeli hostages caused distress among their families.
In return, Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group, reported that seven of the released individuals required hospitalization, alleging mistreatment and harsh conditions during their detention.
According to an AFP correspondent, more than 100 of the freed Palestinian prisoners later arrived in Gaza.
This latest exchange is part of ongoing negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire and working toward a long-term resolution. However, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim warned that Israel’s delays and failure to fully adhere to the agreement could jeopardize the process, potentially leading to its breakdown.
In an interview with AFP, Naim also described the condition of the released hostages as “acceptable given the difficult circumstances in Gaza.”