Eight Gaza hostages released by Hamas
Three Israelis and five Thai nationals were handed over to the Red Cross on Thursday as part of the ceasefire deal
Hamas has released eight Gaza hostages, including three Israelis and five Thais, as part of a ceasefire deal with West Jerusalem, handing them over to the Red Cross. In exchange, Israel began releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners after a brief delay.
Israel’s military confirmed on Thursday that the newly freed captives, including Arbel Yehud, 29, and Gadi Moshe Mozes, 80, have crossed into Israel. Earlier the day, Hamas militants had released Israeli female soldier Agam Berger, who had been held in Gaza since the October 7 attack.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry stated that its citizens who were taken hostage – Thaenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Saethao Bannawat, and Rumnao Surasak – will return home in 10 days.
The exchange in Khan Younis on Thursday sparked strong reactions in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned what he called “shocking scenes” during the handover after television footage showed gunmen struggling to control large crowds who had gathered to witness the captives’ release.
Netanyahu temporarily halted the release of Palestinian prisoners, demanding that mediators prevent similar incidents to ensure the safety of future hostage transfers.
Media outlets later reported that the prisoner release resumed after mediators had provided assurances regarding the safe exit of hostages in the future. According to the Associated Press, white buses carrying prisoners had earlier departed Ofer Prison in the West Bank and arrived in Ramallah. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Information Office confirmed that the process is moving forward.
Among those being released from Israeli prisons, 30 are reportedly minors.
At the same time, Israel’s military confirmed on Thursday that it had killed 10 Palestinians in a strike on a village in the West Bank the previous day, claiming it was targeting militants, according to AFP.
Al Jazeera reported that drones flew over Gaza on Thursday, dropping leaflets warning against raising flags, banners, or engaging in celebrations. In the West Bank, Israeli forces have reportedly raided the homes of former prisoners since their release. Many of the freed Palestinian detainees will not be allowed to remain in the West Bank and will instead be deported to Gaza or Egypt.
The exchange comes as part of a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas earlier this month to end their 15-month conflict, which has inflicted unprecedented devastation on Gaza. Mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, the deal is structured in three phases. In the first stage, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages, including children, female soldiers, the wounded, and the sick, in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees.
Subsequent phases will secure the release of remaining male civilians and soldiers held by Hamas, along with the return of the remains of deceased captives from both sides.
Israeli official Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that Israel is “currently in the stages of preparations for the continuation of the negotiations” towards the second phase of the ceasefire deal.