The nature of the release of Ori Megidish, held captive by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, was unclear in the initial English statement from the Israeli military and Shin Bet, but Prime Minister Netanyahu has used the word ‘freed’ to describe it, indicating that this was not a voluntary release on Hamas’s part.

Hamas has yet to comment.

Netanyahu “congratulated” the Israeli military and the Shin Bet, and said that the state remained committed to releasing all of those held captive in Gaza – as he faces pressure from the families of those captives, some of whom feel that the government is not doing enough.

The prime minister earlier told his war cabinet that Israeli forces were making “systematic progress” in the fight against Hamas.

Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher joining us live from Occupied East Jerusalem for the latest updates.

For in depth analysis. Abdelhamid Siyam is Professor of Political Science and Middle East Studies at Rutgers University. He joins us here in Doha.

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