By Richard Thompson

Hamas has freed three Israeli hostages in Gaza, while Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in the latest exchange as part of an internationally brokered ceasefire deal.

The three hostages - Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy - were handed over to the Red Cross on Saturday morning before reuniting with their families in Israel.

Concerns have been raised about their wellbeing, with Mr Sharabi's family - who live in the UK - describing their shock at his "gaunt" appearance.

Returning Palestinian prisoners were greeted with scenes of celebration at Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Representatives claimed they all needed "medical care", without giving specifics.

So far, 21 hostages and 566 prisoners have been freed since the ceasefire began on 19 January.

By the end of the first stage of the ceasefire in three weeks time, 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are expected to have been freed. Israel says eight of the 33 are dead.

As Mr Sharabi, Mr Ben Ami and Mr Levy were handed over to the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, crowds lined up, cordoned off by a row of armed fighters, to watch and film on mobile phones, as Hamas and Palestinian flags flew.

A Hamas official and Red Cross representative signed paperwork on a stage to complete the handover. The hostages were then paraded on stage, flanked by men with guns. The three men posed holding certificates and answered questions into a microphone, before waving as they were ushered into Red Cross vehicles.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed horror at the physical state of the men who he said were "returning after 491 days of hell, starved, emaciated and pained".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticised the men's state, saying "we have seen again what the monsters of Hamas are".

He also accused Hamas of "repeated violations" of the ceasefire deal, without providing specifics.

Speaking to BBC Arabic on Saturday, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the latest release of Israeli hostages had been carried out in a "civilised manner".

He also accused Israel of "dragging its feet" on implementing humanitarian relief agreed as part of the ceasefire.

Netanyahu's co-ordinator of prisoners and missing persons said Israel treated the issues with "great severity" and would raise them with ceasefire mediators and take action.

Mr Sharabi's brother-in-law, Steve Brisley, told the BBC that having confirmation he is alive is "what we've been working toward for the last 16 months".

It was "incredibly difficult" to see him "thin, gaunt" and being paraded by Hamas, Mr Brisley said. "It's the light that's gone from his eyes that's really struck home for me."

Eli Sharabi, 52, was taken from Kibbutz Beeri with his brother, Yossi, whose death has since been confirmed. Eli's British-born wife, Lianne, and two daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were murdered in the attack.

During his release, Mr Sharabi was filmed saying he was "very happy today to return to...my wife and daughters", adding to concerns he was unaware his family had been killed.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement that "the disturbing images" of the release "serve as yet another stark and painful evidence that leaves no room for doubt - there is no time to waste for the hostages! We must get them all out, down to the very last hostage".

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the handover, said it was "increasingly concerned about the conditions surrounding release operations".

"We strongly urge all parties, including the mediators, to take responsibility to ensure that future releases are dignified and private," it said.

Later on Saturday, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners. More than 70 are serving life or long sentences, and 111 are Gazans detained during the war. Seven are due to be deported.

Seven of the released prisoners were admitted to hospital in Ramallah because of poor health, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club told AFP.

"All the prisoners who were released today are in need of medical care, treatment, and examinations as a result of the brutality they were subjected to during the past months," the group's Abdullah al-Zaghari said.

One of those released was Jamal al-Tawil, 61, a prominent Hamas politician in the occupied West Bank and former mayor of the village of al-Bireh, who has spent more than 19 years in and out of Israeli prisons.

His daughter Bushra al-Tawil was freed in an earlier prisoner release in January.

Both father and daughter were most recently held without charge, media reported.

Khadra al-Daghma, the mother of another released Palestinian prisoner, described feeling "so happy, overjoyed" having seen her son for the first time in 15 years.

"My heart is filled with happiness," she told a reporter in Gaza, adding that her son, Ammar Fadel al-Daghma, had "changed a lot" and was "not the same".

According to the Israeli Prison Service, he was detained for offences including arson, attempted murder and service to an illegal organisation.

Hamas seized 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering the war.

At least 47,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. About two-thirds of Gaza's buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israel's attacks, the UN says.

Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was also taken from Kibbutz Beeri, along with his wife, Raz. She was later released by Hamas.

Mr Ben Ami, an accountant, is "known for his good judgment and sense of humour", according to the Hostages Families Forum.

Or Levy, 34, a computer programmer from Rishon LeZion, a city south of Tel Aviv, fled the Nova festival with his wife Eynav, when gunmen attacked the event.

Mr Levy was taken hostage and Eynav's body was found in a bomb shelter where the couple had been hiding.

In a statement, Mr Levy's family said: "Our hearts tremble and our minds struggle to comprehend the sight of Or, who has returned to us in such a devastating state. His face bears witness to the hell he endured during 491 days in the hands of Hamas monsters.

"After an unbearable period of darkness, we can finally embrace him again and begin healing his body and spirit," the statement said.

Jeremy Bowen: Trump's Gaza plan won't happen, but it will have consequences

Freed Israeli hostage's British family concerned over gaunt appearance

On Friday, Hamas accused Israel of failing to abide by its commitment to boost the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal.

The head of Hamas's media office in Gaza, Salama Marouf said "the humanitarian situation remains catastrophic due to Israeli obstruction".

He said only 8,500 out of an expected 12,000 aid lorries had entered Gaza since 19 January, and medical equipment and shelter supplies had been deliberately delayed.

The allegation contradicts UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, who on Thursday said 10,000 lorries with food, medicine and tents had crossed into Gaza since the start of the ceasefire.

Saturday's exchange took place as US President Donald Trump continued to push his widely criticised proposal to move all Palestinians from Gaza and redevelop it as an international travel destination.

His announcement - for the US to "take over" the Gaza Strip, resettle its Palestinian population and turn the territory into the "Riviera of the Middle East" - has complicated talks on the planned next stage of the ceasefire.

But Israeli negotiators are still expected to meet mediators in Qatar later on Saturday.

Trump's idea was strongly condemned by Arab countries and the UN.

By Richard Thompson

Africa, the world’s youngest continent, is brimming with creativity, talent and innovation. With more than 60% of its population under the age of 25, Africa’s youth are fueling entrepreneurship and job creation across the region. Over the past five years, the number of businesses and start-ups has grown by 20% a new window with 2021 seeing a record US$2.15 billion in tech investments. There are now more than 1,000 tech hubs across Africa a new window catalysing digital, social and economic transformation and rewriting its development narrative. This is the story of Africa’s future, brimming with optimism.

Despite challenges, sub-Saharan Africa has made remarkable progress towards digital transformation. A World Bank report a new window cited a 115% increase in Internet users between 2016 and 2021 while 191 million additional Africans made or received a digital payment?between 2014 and 2021.? Africa’s cities are also the fastest-growing and youngest in the world - and changing rapidly. This urbanisation coupled with The African Continent Free Trade Area a new window (AfCFTA), the world’s largest free trade zone in terms of number of countries, create unparalleled opportunities for development and economic integration, according to the African Development Bank a new window.

Harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend for economic growth

Across the continent, young entrepreneurs are tackling deep-rooted development challenges in sectors from healthcare and education to agriculture and finance:

Rwanda has just launched a HealthTech accelerator hub a new window. This accelerator aims to advance health innovations across Africa to solve some of the continent’s health challenges, particularly in low-income and underserved communities. Etudesk, a new window a Côte d'Ivoire-based Ed-Tech company, is an interactive platform designed to make professional training more accessible. The platform offers a wide range of online courses in Business, IT, Economics, Civil Engineering, and Sciences. In Uganda, a young woman engineer a new window has designed a backpack with solar-powered torches, so that students are able to study at night. In Botswana, Brastorne Enterprises a new window connects nearly 5 million underserved Africans across four countries to vital information using a suite of products that deliver internet capabilities to feature phones.

Mobile money platforms are flourishing with Africa hosting nearly half a new window of the world's mobile banking services and accounts. Zambian fintech company eShandi a new window is on a mission to serve millions of unbanked adults in sub-Saharan Africa by leveraging artificial intelligence and mobile technology to break down traditional banking barriers, such as credit history checks. It’s recently expanded its services to Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe and is a clear example of how technology has enabled communities in developing countries to leapfrog traditional service infrastructure. As one commentator noted: ‘Banks’ customers don’t need face-to-face contact in Africa because they’ve never had it.’ a new window Money transfer not only benefits individuals – it also benefits business and unlocks new forms of economic growth. Technology, the enabler

Inclusive technology has the power to transform the lives of Africa’s 1.48 billion a new window citizens and the potential to eradicate poverty. It can help bridge the education divide and expand access to healthcare. It can boost economic growth and foster new employment opportunities. And it can promote greater transparency in governments and improved public sector productivity – all good news for investors. Yet there are very real barriers to overcome. Less than 40% a new window of Africans have broadband internet access and rural areas are poorly served, while inadequate infrastructure and high data costs restrict connectivity. The global average for internet access stands at 66.2% a new window. In Least Developed Countries, the average smartphone costs 95 per cent a new window of an average monthly income, making online access inaccessible to most.

The continent also faces a skills gap and gender disparity, with women disproportionately excluded from digital opportunities. The International Finance Centre a new window estimates that some 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will need digital skills by 2030. Closing these gaps is not just an opportunity, it’s an imperative for Africa.

Policy and partnerships

If the continent is to capitalize on its youthful entrepreneurship, it needs a policy environment that fosters and quickly delivers digital infrastructure development. It also requires focused investment in education with curricula integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics and exposure to frontier technologies at an early age.

Partnerships are vital too, including with companies and universities both within the region, and internationally. Centres of excellence, which link academia and business also have an important role in promoting local solutions and creating that vital link between research and industry. There are excellent best practices in Africa and in the Global South, so it is about time they start connecting and collaborating on a systematic basis. Of course, establishing and deepening partnerships with Centres of Excellence in the developed world will continue to be important.

Achieving these goals call for scaled up financing and collective effort from governments and development partners with business playing a vital role. Support to young entrepreneurs in the tech sector must be accorded a high priority since they have already demonstrated that even with the deck stacked against them, they can deliver innovation, creating jobs and opportunities for the continent.

Looking ahead, policy makers have a clear choice. Either it is business as usual or create the environment with incentives to let youth and innovation deliver on the promise of Rising Africa.