Eight people released by Hamas as part of ceasefire deal
Here is a summary of today’s hostage-prisoner exchange as part of the Gaza ceasefire:
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Hamas-led militants released eight hostages on Thursday – three Israelis (Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses) and five Thai nationals. Female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, was freed in northern Gaza first. 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 to witness the seven other hostages being handed over.
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Israel is expected to release 110 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday. Of the people expected to be released from prisons in Israel, 30 are serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis. Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis is reported to be one of the prisoners to be released today.
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Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, criticised what he described as “shocking scenes” during the handover. “I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
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US president Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as the crowd waited for confirmation that Gadi Moses had been handed to the Red Cross. Witkoff went for a meeting in a public library beyond, where the families of hostages have a room they use for meetings – but there is no confirmation he met any of them. He had earlier met the four female soldiers freed on Saturday.
Key events
Israel army says seven freed hostages in its custody
Israel’s army have confirmed that the seven freed hostages are now in its custody.
“The seven returning hostages are currently being accompanied by… special forces and ISA (Israel Security Agency) forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment,” the military said, referring to two Israeli hostages and five Thais who were held in Gaza.
Israel’s Netanyahu criticises ‘shocking scenes’ during hostage release
Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has criticised what he described as “shocking scenes” during the handover of seven hostages on Thursday, including two Israelis, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization,” Netanyahu said in a statement, after television images showed gunmen struggling to control large crowds who had gathered to witness the handover.
Here is the statement from the Israeli military in regards to the report earlier that seven hostages – two Israelis and five Thai nationals – had been handed over to the Red Cross (see 11.27am GMT).
“According to information communicated by the Red Cross, seven hostages, including two Israelis and five foreign nationals, were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF (army) and ISA (security agency) forces in the Gaza Strip,” the military said.
The two Israeli hostages to be freed were Gadi Moses and Arbel Yehud. Five Thais were also to be released.
Preparations have been under way for the release of Palestinians prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Here are some images via the newswires:
Emma Graham-Harrison
Reporting from Tel Aviv:
US president Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has just visited Hostage Square as the crowd waited for confirmation that Gadi Moses had been handed to the Red Cross.
Several, when they realised who was there, raced to pay personal tribute to Witkoff. “Thank you for freeing the hostages, thank you to Mr Trump,” one shouted.
Witkoff went for a meeting in a public library beyond, where the families of hostages have a room they use for meetings – but there is no confirmation he met any of them.
He had earlier met the four female soldiers freed on Saturday. He’s now left in a convoy.
Israeli army says Red Cross confirms it has seven hostages – two Israelis and five Thai nationals
The Israeli army says the Red Cross has confirmed that it has seven hostages – two Israelis and five Thai nationals.
More details soon …
Top Palestinian militant to be freed in Israel prisoner exchange
Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, will be released on Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Zubeidi, 49, rose to prominence during the second intifada, a Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s, becoming one of the most well-known militant leaders in Jenin and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
It was during the uprising that Zubeidi’s mother was shot and killed when the Israeli army raided the camp, reports AFP.
He is known by Israeli security services as the man behind several deadly, high-profile attacks against Israelis.
The Israeli army has released pictures of Agam Berger being reunited with her parents:
Freed Israeli soldier, Agam Berger, is on her way to hospital, said Israel’s military, where she will undergo a medical assessment.
“The returning hostage, IDF soldier Agam Berger, together with her parents, just took off aboard an Israeli air force helicopter to make her way to the hospital where she will receive medical treatment,” the military said in a statement.
Here is a video of Berger being released earlier:
