Eight more hostages were freed by Hamas-led militants on Thursday, January 30 in a chaotic process that briefly delayed the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners by Israel and underscored the fragility of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that began earlier this month.
The swap of hostages for prisoners is a key part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war between Israel and Hamas launched after Hamas Militants abducted dozens of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hamas also confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, head of its military wing and one of the alleged masterminds of the October 7 attack, six months after Israel announced he was killed in an airstrike in Gaza.
Hamas freed three Israelis and five Thai nationals, who were working on farms in southern Israel when taken hostage more than 15 months ago.
The Palestinian prisoners released include 30 who were serving life sentences for deadly attacks against Israelis; seven were allowed to return to the occupied West Bank, but the rest were being transferred to Egypt before further deportation.
The release of prisoners came hours after
a chaotic hostage handover in the Gaza Strip, where masked militants shuttled some captives through a rowdy crowd of thousands of Palestinians.
Hamas released seven of the hostages in front of the destroyed home of its slain leader, Yahya Sinwar, as thousands pressed in.
The first hostage, female soldier Agam Berger, 20 — was released after Hamas paraded her in front of a smaller crowd in the heavily destroyed urban Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.
Hours later, a chaotic scene unfolded at a handover of the other seven in the southern city of Khan Younis.
Footage showed hostage Arbel Yehoud, 29, looking stunned as masked militants hustled her through the shouting crowd, pushing people back. Also released were Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old Israeli man, and five Thai laborers. Both Yehoud and Moses are dual German-Israeli nationals.
Netanyahu condemned the “shocking scenes” and called on international mediators to ensure the safety of hostages in future releases.
Israel identified the Thai hostages released as: Watchara Sriaoun, 33; Pongsak Thaenna, 36; Sathian Suwannakham, 35; Surasak Rumnao, 32; and Bannawat Saethao, 27. Thai officials said they appeared to be in good health.
Twenty-three Thais were among more than 100 hostages released during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Israel says three Thais remain in captivity, two of whom are believed to be dead.