Hamas releases 3 hostages after 484 days, and Israel begins the release of 183 prisoners.

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Three hostages kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attack were released by Hamas on Saturday under an ongoing ceasefire deal with the terror group, returning to Israel 484 days after they were abducted from their communities near the Gaza border.

Ofer Calderon (54) and Yarden Bibas (35) were released to the International Red Cross in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Saturday morning, and Keith Siegel (65) was handed over about two hours later at the Gaza City port, marking an end to 15 months of fighting. Israel has also begun releasing 183 prisoners.

The release was much more controlled than the chaos that followed Thursday's release of three Israelis and five Thai nationals. Hamas set up stages at both locations, with Calderon and Bibas being released at 8:30 a.m. and Siegel just after 10 a.m. Representatives of the International Red Cross sat at desks on the stage to sign so-called handover documents presented by Hamas.

Calderon and Bibas were the first to be released, taken to a platform set up by Hamas in southern Gaza City, where they held the now ubiquitous certificates issued by the terrorist group.

US-Israeli citizen Seagal was released.

Seagal, a US-Israeli dual citizen, was handed over at the Gaza City port, paraded on a stage by the sea while he carried two “gift bags” forced upon the hostages by the terror group. The second bag was for his wife Aviva, who was released by Hamas in November 2023, according to the Walla news site. He appeared gaunt and pale, but was able to walk with the help of masked and armed Hamas fighters.

Palestinian media reports said Hamas commander Haitham Hawajri, whom Israel previously claimed to have killed, was among those who handed over the seagull to the Red Cross. The IDF later admitted it had not killed Hawajri, the commander of Hamas's Peace Battalion, in December 2023.

Release of 183 Palestinian prisoners begins

In a statement, the IDF said that after Hawajri was targeted on December 3, 2023, “it was determined by the IDF and Shin Bet with a high degree of probability that he had been killed, following which an IDF spokesperson's statement was issued on the subject.”

“After further investigation, it turned out that the intelligence relied on by the Intelligence Directorate and Shin Bet was incorrect and the terrorist was not killed in the attack,” the army said.

This would not be the first time the IDF has announced the death of a Hamas commander and later backtracked after determining that its intelligence at the time was not accurate.

According to Palestinian officials, a total of 183 Palestinian prisoners are to be released, including dozens serving long sentences or life imprisonment and 111 people from the Gaza Strip who were arrested after October 7, 2023, and detained without trial.