Today's News: Hamas Releases Final Hostages Under Ceasefire Agreement

Hamas released six living Israeli hostages on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. In exchange, Israel is set to free around 600 Palestinian prisoners.

Terrence Dorsey

Feb 22, 2025

Photo: Hatem Khaled/Reuters

Date: February 22, 2025
Topic: Hamas Releases Final Hostages Under Ceasefire Agreement Amid Controversy Over Body Transfers
Summary: Hamas released six living Israeli hostages on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. In exchange, Israel is set to free around 600 Palestinian prisoners. The release process was marred by Hamas initially handing over the wrong body for hostage Shiri Bibas, prompting outrage in Israel. The remains of Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, were later confirmed to have been killed while in captivity. The hostage swap raises hopes for continued negotiations, though uncertainty remains over future exchanges and the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Sources

Key Points

Hamas released six living Israeli hostages, concluding the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
Israel is set to release approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were serving life sentences.
The release was overshadowed by Hamas initially handing over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, sparking Israeli outrage. The remains of Shiri Bibas arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday night, according the CNN.
Negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire remain uncertain, as Hamas signals willingness to release all remaining hostages in exchange for Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
The exchange follows months of indirect negotiations brokered by Qatar and other mediators.

Unique Highlights

CNN: Detailed the conditions of the released hostages and described Hamas’s public staging of the handover.
NBC News: Focused on the misidentification of Shiri Bibas' body and the forensic process that confirmed her death.
The New York Times: Emphasized the emotional impact on the Bibas family and Hamas’s quick turnaround to correct its mistake.
The Washington Post: Provided an in-depth look at the hostage release event, including the staged public handover in Gaza.
Wall Street Journal: Covered Avera Mengistu’s release after over a decade in Hamas captivity, highlighting his family's struggle to secure his return.
Fox News: Framed Hamas’s handling of hostage remains as a deliberate act of cruelty, with Israeli officials vowing retaliation.

Contrasting Details

Political Framing: CNN and The Washington Post highlighted the humanitarian aspect of the hostage releases, while Fox News and The Wall Street Journal framed Hamas’s actions as part of a broader propaganda effort.
Responsibility for Bibas’ Death: Israeli officials accused Hamas of killing Bibas and her children, while Hamas claimed they died in an Israeli airstrike.
Future of Ceasefire Negotiations: The New York Times and CNN suggested that Hamas is willing to continue negotiations, while Fox News and The Washington Post cast doubt on Hamas's intentions.
Treatment of Hostages: The Wall Street Journal noted that hostages appeared thin but in relatively good condition, while CNN emphasized that some past released hostages were in dire health.

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