The Handover Of Hostages Is Chaotic, Israel Had Delayed The Release Of Palestinian Prisoners

The release of Israeli female soldiers Agam Berger on January 30. (Source: IDF)

JAKARTA - The gradual agreement on the release of hostages and detainees between Israel and Hamas continues on Thursday, after being delayed due to chaos during the release of Israeli hostages criticized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over three Israelis and five Thai hostages in Gaza on Thursday, but Israel postponed the release of Palestinian prisoners, following chaos at one of the points of surrender, where large crowds surrounded the prisoners.

In Jabalia in northern Gaza, an Israeli soldier, Agam Berger, wore an olive green uniform, herded through a narrow alley between buildings that were badly damaged and passed through piles of debris before being handed over to the Red Cross.

Arbel Badminton (29) who was kidnapped by Kibbutz Nir Oz in a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, looked frightened and struggled to walk among the soaring crowd as armed militants handed him over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis.

Another Israeli hostage, Gadi Moses (80) was also released along with five Thai nationals, the Israeli military said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the sight of their surrender amid the crowd was shocking and threatened to kill anyone who injured the hostages.

He urged the mediators to make sure the incident would not happen again.

🎥 The moment Agam was reunited with the IDF after 482 days of being surrounded by terrorists: pic.twitter.com/V7tAtJJkxC

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 30, 2025

The moment Agam was reunited with the IDF after 482 days of being surrounded by terrorists: pic.twitter.com/V7tAtJkxC

"I took a very serious look at the shocking events during the release of our hostages," PM Netanyahu said in a statement.

"This is further evidence of the inconceivable atrocities of the Hamas terrorist organization," he continued.

He warned, "Anyone who dares to hurt our hostages will pay for it.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Katz said they had ordered a postponement of the release "until there was certainty that the hostages would be safely released at the next stage".

Initially, at least 110 Palestinian prisoners were expected to be released on Thursday as part of a gradual agreement to stop fighting in the coastal territory that was destroyed earlier this month.

An Israeli official involved in the operation said the buses carrying the detainees had been instructed to return to prison in response to the chaotic surrender.

Later, an Israeli official later said a deal had been reached and Palestinian prisoners would be released at 17.00 p.m. local time.

A Palestinian source said the Red Cross had told Hamas that Palestinian prisoners would be released on Thursday.

After that, the bus arrived in Ramallah, West Bank with 110 Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of the deal.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when a Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region, killing about 1,200 people and 250 others being held hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

In response, Israel carried out military operations in Gaza, which until Thursday killed 47,460 Palestinians and injured 111,580 others, according to medical sources, quoted from WAFA.

About half of the hostages were released the following month during the only previous ceasefire. A number of other hostages have been found alive or dead during Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Israel noted that around 82 hostages were still in Gaza, with about 30 people declared dead in absence.