Hamas launches 3 frail-looking Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees under Gaza ceasefire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli captives and Israel released nearly 200 Palestinian detainees Saturday in the most recent exchange of a ceasefire that has paused 16 months of war in Gaza.

The hostages ´ condition and scenes of Hamas forcing them to speak in a handover event triggered outrage in Israel and might 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 implies leaving dozens of captives in captivity. “President Trump entirely concurred with me: We will do everything to return all the captives, however Hamas will not be there,” Netanyahu said after the exchange.

Civilians Eli Sharabi, 52