Eliya Cohen (L), Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert, flanked by armed fighters, wave on stage at a Hamas propaganda ceremony for their release in Gaza on February 22, 2025 (Screen grab/YouTube)
Hostages Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert are handed over to the Red Cross in central Gaza’s Nuseirat, with Hamas’s usual signing ceremony with the aid group.
They are brought on stage to receive certificates from the terrorists. The three look thin, but are on their feet and smiling and waving in the choreographed event. It is unknown whether this was coerced by Hamas.
Their families watching from Israel react with joy.
Hisham al-Sayed, the sixth hostage being freed today, will reportedly be handed over to the Red Cross at a third site, in Gaza City, without ceremony.
The IDF says the Red Cross has notified it that the released hostages were handed over to them. The Red Cross is now bringing them to IDF and Shin Bet forces inside Gaza to then be escorted out of the Strip, the military says.
“The IDF is prepared to receive an additional hostage who is due to be transferred to the Red Cross soon,” the IDF adds, referring to Hisham al-Sayed.
Omer Shem Tov, flanked by Hamas gunmen, is freed in Nuseirat in Gaza on February 22, 2025 (Screen grab/YouTube)Eliya Cohen, flanked by Hamas gunmen, is freed in Nuseirat in Gaza on February 22, 2025 (Screen grab/YouTube)Omer Wenkert, flanked by Hamas gunmen, is freed in Nuseirat in Gaza on February 22, 2025 (Screen grab/YouTube)
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 22, 2025
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