Three male Israeli hostages and 183 Palestinian prisoners were freed in the fifth round of exchanges between Israel and Hamas Saturday as Israel expressed concern about the appearance of the released captives.

Hostages Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy and Eli Sharabi were released from Gaza in exchange for 183 Palestinian prisoners, after more than 16 months in captivity.

The three men appeared thin, weak and pale, and in worse condition than the 18 hostages already freed under the truce.

Hamas released three more hostages on Saturday under a three-week-old cease-fire deal that has become a test of wills between the militant group and Israel. The group freed Or Levy, 34, who was taken from the Nova music festival 16 months ago,

Hamas on Friday announced the names of three Israeli hostages to be released on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners after a delay that underlined the obstacles hanging over a fragile deal meant to end the war in Gaza.

Emaciated and disoriented, three Israeli hostages freed in Gaza on Saturday were forced by their Hamas captors to speak on stage, in the latest of the increasingly familiar handover ceremonies. Crowds,