Released Palestinian prisoners were met with cheers in the occupied West Bank, marking the final exchange of the first phase of a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas. Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons also arrived in Gaza’s Khan Younis days after Israel had originally refused to release them.

Hamas hands over the bodies of four Israelis held in Gaza to the Red Cross as part of the last scheduled exchange in the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Simultaneously, the first bus carrying dozens of freed Palestinians prisoners from the Ofer Prison arrives in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP

Trump suggests that Ukraine may be to blame for conflict with Russia; Palestinians flee northern West Bank amid Israeli crackdown on militants; Hamas says more hostages will be released; Winter storm heads for East Coast.

Red Cross ambulances have arrived in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah in preparation for the handover of six Israeli hostages to be freed Saturday under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. AP

A poll conducted by Maariv showed that 70% of Israelis support implementing the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal.

At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and more than 200 taken captive. For more on Israel’s continued attacks in the occupied West Bank, see here. Read here about how and why pro-Palestine protests on US campuses are growing smaller.

Hamas returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the Red Cross and some of the 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released into the West Bank to their families, marking the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu were the latest hostages to be released by Hamas in Rafah. Both hostages were transferred to Israeli custody and have crossed into the country. Four additional hostages are set to be released in Nuseirat.

Israeli hostages Averu Mengistu (4th-R) and Tal Shoham (L) are flanked by Hamas fighters as they stand on a stage during their release in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. TEL AVIV — Israel released two Israeli hostages early Saturday among six to be freed in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails.