Israel on Thursday suspended the planned release of Palestinian prisoners after Gaza militants freed three Israeli hostages and five Thais amid chaotic scenes.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Defence Minister Israel Katz, has instructed the delay of the release of the terrorists scheduled for today until the safe departure of our hostages in the upcoming phases is assured,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Israel had been due to free 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, in exchange for the three Israelis, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group said earlier.
A Hamas source told AFP that the group was in touch with mediators to “compel” Israel to release the 110 prisoners in the third exchange under the January 19 ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
Israel later said it had received assurance from mediators over the future “safe release” of captives.
Another hostage and prisoner release had been scheduled for Saturday, with three Israeli men due to be set free.
The prisoner release setback came after militants in Gaza freed three Israeli hostages and five Thais captured in Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Netanyahu denounced what he called “shocking scenes” during the hostage releases in Khan Yunis.
Television images showed gunmen struggling to control hundreds of Gazans there to witness the handover.
“This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” Netanyahu said.
First to be freed Thursday was Israeli woman soldier Agam Berger, 20, handed over separately to International Committee of the Red Cross officials in Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Before she was freed, footage showed her on a stage with masked Hamas members in distinctive green headbands, being prompted to wave to onlookers.
Israel’s military said the three Israeli hostages and five Thais were now back in Israel.
The two other freed Israelis are civilians Gadi Moses, 80, and Arbel Yehud, 29, both of whom also hold German nationality.
Netanyahu’s office named the freed Thais Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamnau, and Bannawat Saethao.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she was “elated” that they were out of captivity.
In devastated Khan Yunis, dense crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Yehud and Moses ahead of their release near the childhood home of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who Israel killed in October.
On Wednesday, the Moses family said it had “received with great excitement the wonderful news of our beloved Gadi’s return.”
The January 19 ceasefire hinges on the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, in exchange for around 1,900 people — mostly Palestinians — in Israeli custody.
Before Thursday, Hamas had released seven hostages, with 290 prisoners freed in exchange.
“I am so tired. This isn’t fair. See for yourself all the families that came to wait and now are uncertain when we will see them,” said Raghed Nasser, 21, whose father Hussein was jailed 22 years ago while her mother was pregnant with her.
– Aid trucks row –
The truce deal has allowed a surge of aid into the devastated Gaza Strip, where the war has created a long-running humanitarian crisis.
However, senior Hamas officials accused Israel of slowing aid deliveries, with one citing key items such as fuel, tents, heavy machinery, and other equipment.
COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, called this “totally fake news”.
As the text of the agreement — mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States — has not been made public, AFP was not able to verify its terms of aid.
– Displacement ‘injustice’ –
The ceasefire deal is currently in its first, 42-day phase, which should see 33 hostages freed. The Thai hostages are not included in that number.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for sealing the agreement, which took effect before his inauguration, and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the talks, met Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday.
Trump has invited Netanyahu to the White House on February 4, according to the premier’s office.
After the truce began, Trump touted a plan to “clean out” Gaza, calling for Palestinians to relocate to neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Jordan.
However, both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II rejected this.
More than 376,000 displaced Palestinians have gone back to northern Gaza since Israel reopened access earlier this week, according to the UN humanitarian office OCHA, with many returning to little more than rubble.
“My house is destroyed,” 33-year-old Mohammed Al-Faleh told AFP.
“The biggest problem is that there is no water,” he added. “Food aid is reaching Gaza… but there is no gas or electricity. We bake bread on a fire fuelled by wood and nylon.”
Israel cut ties with the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) on Thursday following accusations it provided cover for Hamas, a move likely to hamper delivery of vital services after 15 months of war in Gaza.
UNRWA, which has long been the lead agency in coordinating aid to Gaza, will be banned from operating on Israeli soil, and contact between it and Israeli officials will also be forbidden.
UN chief Antonio Guterres had demanded Israel retract its order.
