Israel and Hamas completed their fifth prisoner and hostage swap under a fragile Gaza ceasefire on Saturday. The release of three Israeli hostages, who appeared frail and disoriented, left their families in dismay. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group reported that seven of the 183 Palestinians released by Israel required hospital treatment, alleging mistreatment during their imprisonment.
More than 100 of the freed Palestinian prisoners have since arrived in Gaza, according to an AFP correspondent. This exchange is part of the ongoing negotiations to extend the ceasefire, with hopes for a permanent resolution to the conflict.
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However, Hamas official Bassem Naim warned that Israel’s “procrastination and lack of commitment in implementing the first phase” of the agreement could jeopardize the fragile deal, potentially leading to its collapse.
Despite the challenges, Naim described the condition of the hostages as “acceptable under the difficult circumstances” in Gaza.
