Hamas handed over three Israeli and five Thai hostages to Gaza on Thursday. Israel has delayed the expected release of Palestinian prisoners after chaotic scenes at one of the handover points, where large crowds swarmed around the captives, A2 CNN reports.
Arbel Yehud, 29, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, appeared frightened and struggled to push his way through a large crowd as armed militants handed him over to the Red Cross in a tense scene south of the city of Khan Younis. Another Israeli hostage, Gadi Moses, 80, was also freed along with five Thai nationals who worked on Israeli farms near Gaza when militants burst through the border fence, the Israeli military said.
The mother of one of the Thais watched a live stream of the scene in anguish from her home in the northeastern province of Udon Thani. "Please let my son go now, I want to see his face," said Wiwwaro Sriaoun, 53, as footage on her phone showed a vehicle moving slowly through the crowd.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the sight of their surrender amid large crowds was shocking and threatened death to anyone who harmed the hostages. He urged mediators to ensure the scene was not repeated.
A total of 110 Palestinian prisoners were expected to be released on Thursday as part of a phased deal that halted fighting in the besieged coastal territory earlier this month. An Israeli official involved in the operation said buses carrying the detainees had been ordered back to prisons in an apparent response to the chaotic handover.
Hamas, which Israel has vowed to eradicate, still has a strong presence in Gaza, despite heavy bombardment by the Middle East's most advanced military for more than 15 months and the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar.
"Killing leaders only makes the people stronger and more stubborn," senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said of Sinwar, filmed by an Israeli drone seriously wounded throwing a piece of wood at the device in his latest defiance of Israel.
The release in Khan Younis took place near the bombed ruins of Sinwar's house. (A2 Televizion)
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