Three Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal. In response, Israel has freed dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
On Saturday, Hamas released three Israeli hostages—Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy—who had been taken during the October 7 attacks. Upon their return, they appeared visibly weak. The release came as part of a ceasefire agreement, though the way Hamas conducted the handover, on a podium under armed guard, raised questions.
The families of the hostages were overjoyed to reunite with their loved ones. Or Levy’s mother, overcome with emotion, expressed her relief and happiness, saying how much she had missed her son.
In exchange, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners, including some convicted of deadly attacks. As buses arrived in Gaza and the West Bank, large crowds gathered to greet the freed detainees. Some shared their painful experiences in detention, with one reflecting on the suffering endured but expressing gratitude for the freedom.
During the handover, Ohad Ben Ami made a plea, speaking between two armed gunmen: "I plead, I am being released now because of a deal, the deal is because of negotiations. I plead that the second and third deals be implemented, this framework, that the war end and that us, all of the prisoners, return home safely."
Eli Sharabi also spoke, saying: "I know and I am very sorry that, as I am being released today, my brother Yossef Sharabi is not here, next to me today."
Discussions for further exchanges are ongoing, though concerns about the long-term stability of the ceasefire remain.
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India is aiming to "boost bilateral linkages" as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived for an official visit in Amman on Monday (15 December), according to a post on his X account.
The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan opted out of a major regional meeting held in Iran’s capital Tehran on Sunday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has begun a multi-nation diplomatic tour of the Middle East, showing Beijing’s deepening engagement in a region undergoing conflicts, shifting alliances and major geopolitical realignments.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is monitoring recent Iranian military exercises and will raise the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington next week.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
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