Hamas releases 3 frail-looking Israeli captives for Palestinian detainees under Gaza ceasefire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas-led militants released 3 gaunt, frail-looking Israeli captives and Israel freed almost 200 Palestinian detainees Saturday in the current exchange of a ceasefire that has actually stopped briefly 16 months of war in Gaza.

The hostages ´ condition and scenes of Hamas requiring them to speak in a handover event stimulated outrage in Israel and could increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend the ceasefire beyond its existing six-week stage.

Netanyahu has actually signified he would resume the war, even if that means leaving lots of hostages in captivity. “President Trump totally agreed with me: We will do whatever to return all the captives, but Hamas will not exist,” Netanyahu said after the exchange.

Civilians Eli Sharabi, 52