Israel and Hamas finalize fifth prisoner swap under ceasefire agreement
dawn.com —
Israel and Hamas completed their fifth prisoner swap on Saturday, releasing 183 Palestinians in exchange for three Israelis. Seven of the released Palestinians required hospitalization due to reported mistreatment in Israeli jails. The swap follows a fragile ceasefire agreement and comes as negotiations for a more permanent truce are set to begin. Hamas officials expressed concerns about Israel's commitment to the agreement. Crowds celebrated the prisoners' return in both Gaza and Israel. The International Committee of the Red Cross called for future releases to be handled with dignity and privacy.