Hamas has released six Israeli hostages who are the last living victims to be freed under the first phase of a fragile ceasefire.

       Five of the captives were handed over in staged ceremonies that Israel and the Red Cross have condemned as cruel and disrespectful, escorted by masked, armed Hamas fighters in front of hundreds of Palestinians.

       Four of the six hostages - Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert - were kidnapped during Hamas’ October 7 2023 attack which triggered the war.

       The two other hostages - Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed - had been held by Hamas for around a decade after each entered Gaza on their own.

       Mr Shoham, 40, and Mr Mengistu, 38, were freed in the first handover in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Saturday morning.

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       After arriving in Israel, both were taken to medical centres for examination.

       Mr Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, entered Gaza on his own in 2014 and his family said he has struggled with mental health issues.

       Mr Wenkert, Mr Shem Tov and Mr Cohen, all in their 20s, were freed in the second handover in Nuseirat, central Gaza.

       A smiling Mr Shem Tov, acting under duress, kissed two militants on the head and blew kisses to the crowd.

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       Watching the release, Mr Cohen’s family and friends in Israel chanted “Eliya! Eliya! Eliya!” and cheered.

       Mr Shem Tov told his parents they are “heroes” as they embraced, laughing and crying, near the Gaza border.

       He said: “You’re amazing. You have no idea how much I dreamt of you."

       The final hostage, Mr al-Sayed, 36, was released privately in Gaza City later on Saturday.

       The Bedouin Israeli crossed on his own into Gaza in 2015 and his family has told Israeli media he was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia.

       The release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners by Israel — the largest one-day prisoner release in the ceasefire’s first phase — has been delayed, apparently for Israeli security consultations on Saturday evening.

       The first phase of the ceasefire ends next week and there are fears the war will resume.

       Tensions have risen after Hamas initially handed over the body of an unidentified Palestinian woman instead of Israeli mother-of-two Shiri Bibas.

       Hamas suggested this was a mistake and the correct body has now been returned.