Israel releases 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for three hostages

On Saturday, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for three Israeli hostages. This marked the fifth round of a hostages-for-prisoners deal under a ceasefire with Hamas, which has been in place since January 19. The released prisoners were welcomed by large crowds in the West Bank and Gaza. Many were greeted as heroes, with emotional reunions and celebrations, while some reported mistreatment during their detention in Israeli prisons. The release of the hostages has sparked anger in Israel, where the three freed citizens appeared gaunt. Israeli officials condemned Hamas for their treatment of the hostages, while the International Committee of the Red Cross criticized the staged nature of the release events.