Hamas releases three more Israeli hostages for dozens of Palestinian prisoners

Hamas fighters (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Hamas-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli civilian men they held for the past 16 months on Saturday, and Israel was freeing dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of an agreement that has paused the war in the Gaza Strip.

Before a crowd of hundreds, armed Hamas fighters led Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34, onto a stage, where they were forced to make a public statement before being handed over to the Red Cross.