Hamas frees 8 more hostages

Israeli soldier Agam Berger, who was released in northern Gaza. (Photo 2) Crowds at the handover site in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis —AP

AP KHAN YOUNIS (Gaza Strip)

Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners. The release was delayed by a chaotic scene in which a crowd of Palestinians surrounded and jeered at hostages as they were turned over to the Red Cross.

The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive 15-month  war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose October 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting. It was held despite a dispute earlier this week over the sequence in which the hostages were released.

The first hostage, a female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, was released in northern Gaza. Hours later, a chaotic scene unfolded as thousands of people pressed around a handover site in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, in front of the destroyed home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Footage showed Arbel Yehoud, a 29-year-old hostage, looking stunned as she was led through the crowd by the militants toward waiting Red Cross vehicles. Hundreds of militants from Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group arrived with a convoy in a show of force, and thousands of people gathered to watch, some from the tilted rooftops of bombed-out buildings. Many in the crowd shouted and surrounded Yehoud as masked militants pushed people away and escorted her through.

Red Cross vehicles were then delayed as they tried to drive away. The Israeli army later said the hostages were in Israel. The other two Israelis released Thursday were Yehoud and Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man. Five Thai nationals were freed, but were not officially identified.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “shocking” scene” and called on international mediators to prevent similar events in the future. A number of foreign workers were taken captive along with dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers during Hamas’ attack.

Twenty-three Thais were among more than 100 hostages released during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Israel says eight Thais remain in captivity, two of whom are believed to be dead.

In the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas is set to release a total of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, older adults and sick or wounded men, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says Hamas has confirmed that eight of the hostages to be released in this phase are dead.