Hamas launches 3 frail-looking Israeli captives for Palestinian detainees under Gaza ceasefire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas-led militants launched 3 gaunt, frail-looking Israeli captives and Israel freed almost 200 Palestinian detainees Saturday in the most current exchange of a ceasefire that has stopped briefly 16 months of war in Gaza.

The captives ´ condition and scenes of Hamas forcing them to speak in a handover event stimulated outrage in Israel and might increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend the ceasefire beyond its current six-week phase.

Netanyahu has indicated he would resume the war, even if that implies leaving dozens of hostages in captivity. "President Trump totally concurred with me: We will do whatever to return all the hostages, however Hamas will not exist," Netanyahu said after the exchange.

Civilians Eli Sharabi, 52