Hamas releases 6 more Israeli hostages

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Hamas on Feb 2 released six more Israeli hostages as part of a ceasefire deal reached to pause the 16-month Gaza war as heightened tension casted a cloud over the truce agreement's future.

Those being freed are Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu.

Of the six hostages freed, Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, were kidnapped by Hamas from the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel during the group's October 7, 2023 attack.

They were handed over to the Red Cross to be transported to Israeli forces from central Gaza's Nuseirat.