Hamas has released six more hostages held in Gaza, in exchange for 602 Palestinian prisoners to be freed later on Saturday.The released hostages included four kidnapped during the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel – Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert.The two other men freed, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, have been held in Gaza for years – Mr Mengistu since 2014 and Mr al-Sayed since 2015.The six are the final hostages still alive to be returned as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal set to end next Saturday. Israel and Hamas have yet to agree the terms of a second phase.Later on Saturday, 602 Palestinian prisoners are set to be released, the majority of whom were detained after the 7 October 2023 attack.The BBC understands those released will include 50 prisoners serving life sentences and 60 with high sentences, according to a Palestinian prisoners’ media office statement.The bodies of four more hostages are expected to be transferred to Israel next week in what is supposed to be the final step in the first phase of the ceasefire.There are 59 hostages still held by Hamas, around half of whom are believed to be alive. More are set to be freed in the next phase of the three-stage ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which is scheduled to start on 1 March.Hamas began releasing hostages, facilitated by the Red Cross, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in January. Initial chaotic scenes become more choreographed, with hostages flanked by fighters on stages before the handovers.Mr Shoham, 40, and Mr Mengistu, 39, were passed to the Red Cross in R …
