Hamas releases all 6 hostages as planned in latest exchange

Hamas releases all 6 hostages as planned in latest exchange

Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons.

Hamas released six living hostages on Saturday in separate locations of the Gaza Strip -- including the city of Rafah in the south and the Nuseirat refugee camp in the center of the enclave.

Stages were set up in each location on Saturday morning, surrounded by Hamas fighters and crowds of onlookers.

Two hostages -- Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39 -- were released following a signing ceremony in Rafah.

"According to the information communicated by the Red Cross, two hostages were transferred to them, and they are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip," a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency said. "The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are due to be transferred to the Red Cross in the near future."