Hamas frees 8 hostages as Israel halts prisoner release

Hamas released eight hostages on Thursday in Gaza, but a chaotic handover in front of a massive crowd of masked militants drew a strong response from Israel. The Israeli government temporarily halted its planned release of 110 Palestinian prisoners, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding assurances from mediators that future hostage transfers would be conducted safely.

Crowds and militants disrupt handover

The first hostage, Israeli soldier Agam Berger, 20, was released earlier in the day in Jabaliya, but the main exchange in Khan Younis turned into a spectacle. Masked Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants arrived in a convoy, flanked by thousands of onlookers. Footage showed hostage Arbel Yehoud, 29, being rushed through the crowd as militants struggled to maintain control.

The released hostages included:

• Arbel Yehoud, 29, Israeli civilian
• Gadi Moses, 80, Israeli civilian
• Five Thai laborers: Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwankam, Bannawat Seathao, and Surasak Lamnau

After the tumultuous scene, Netanyahu condemned the “shocking” manner in which hostages were released, calling on international mediators to ensure order in future exchanges.

Ceasefire continues, but tensions rise

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is set to release 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel claims eight of the hostages scheduled for release are already dead. Among those set for release from Israeli prisons is Zakaria Zubeidi, a former militant leader and key figure in a 2021 jailbreak.

Hamas insists it will not release the remaining hostages unless Israel ends the war and withdraws completely from Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel has reiterated its goal of destroying Hamas, even as far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition push for the war to resume.

War’s devastating toll

The war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack, has resulted in catastrophic losses. Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250 hostages in Israel. In response, Israel launched an intense military offensive, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, more than half of them women and children. Israel claims it has killed 17,000 Hamas fighters, though evidence has not been provided.

The conflict has left much of Gaza in ruins, with 90% of the population displaced and many living in desperate conditions in makeshift shelters. With the ceasefire fragile and negotiations uncertain, the war could resume as early as March if no long-term deal is reached.