Hamas frees 6 more hostages, but Gaza ceasefires future unclear – National [Video]

Hamas on Saturday released the last six living hostages expected under the first phase of its ceasefire with Israel with a week remaining, as growing questions over the next phase clouded the fragile deal ‘s future.

The hostages included three Israeli men seized from the Nova music festival and another taken while visiting family in southern Israel when Hamas-led militants stormed the border in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered Israel’s 16-month military campaign in Gaza. The two other hostages were held for a decade after entering Gaza on their own.

Five were handed over in staged ceremonies that the Red Cross and Israel have condemned as cruel and disrespectful, escorted by masked, armed Hamas fighters in front of hundreds of Palestinians.

Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen were posed alongside Hamas fighters. A beaming Shem Tov kissed two militants on the head and blew kisses to the crowd.