Hamas releases three gaunt Israeli hostages for 183 Palestinian prisoners

Israeli captives, from left to the right, Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy, are escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Hamas-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli hostages, and Israel freed nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, in the latest exchange of a ceasefire agreement that has paused 16 months of war in Gaza.

The hostages’ condition and scenes of Hamas forcing them to speak in a handover ceremony sparked outrage in Israel and could increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend the ceasefire beyond its current six-week phase.