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.
Mr Netanyahu has signalled that he would resume the war, even if that meant leaving dozens of hostages in Hamas captivity.
“(US) President (Donald) Trump completely agreed with me, we will do everything to return all the…