Israel’s plans to release 110 Palestinian prisoners later in the day were put on hold by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who demanded that mediators assure the safe exit for hostages going forward. He said later that he had received that commitment, and Israeli media reported the releases would go ahead.
Hamas released seven of the hostages in front of the destroyed home of its slain leader as thousands pressed in. The militant group called it a “message of determination," but it triggered the latest in a series of disputes that have sent U.S. and Arab mediators scrambling to patch up the truce.
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. Hundreds of terrorists from Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad terrorist group arrived with a convoy, and thousands of people gathered to watch, some from the tilted rooftops of bombed-out buildings.
Footage showed hostage Arbel Yehoud, 29, looking stunned as masked terrorists hustled her through the shouting crowd, pushing people back. Also released were Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old Israeli man, and five Thai laborers, identified by Israel as: Watchara Sriaoun, 33; Pongsak Thaenna, 36; Sathian Suwannakham, 35; Surasak Rumnao, 32; and Bannawat Saethao, 27.
