DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, Sixth captive to be handed over by Hamas to Israeli authorities in Gaza City without a ceremony.Hamas has released five Israeli captives from Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons in the final swap under the first phase of the ceasefire between the Palestinian group and Israel.
The first two captives, Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu, were handed over to the Red Cross in Rafah in southern Gaza on Saturday after they were led onto a stage by armed Hamas fighters.
Three more captives – Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert and Omer Shem Tov – were later released to Red Cross officials in Nuseirat in central Gazain a separate ceremony.
Palestinian sources told Al Jazeera that Hisham al-Sayed, the sixth captive, will be handed over to Israeli authorities without a ceremony.
The 37-year-old Bedouin Israeli, who was taken captive when he entered Gaza in April 2015, is expected to be handed over at a location in Gaza City in the northern part of the enclave.
The six are the last from a group of 33 to be freed in the first stage of the ceasefire, which took effect on January 19. Advertisement
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Nuseirat, said a large crowd has gathered to witness the release of the three captives.
“We see reinforcements from the Qassam Brigades in order to maintain order and safety of the process,” he reported, referring to Hamas’s armed wing. “Compared with past handovers, the scene here at Nuseirat looks more organised.”
Our correspondent said that Ha …