Chaotic scenes mark prisoner, hostage exchange between Israel, Hamas
New Delhi, Jan 30: The third exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal took place Thursday in an atmosphere far more chaotic than the previous two rounds.
Israeli soldier Agam Berger was the first to be released by Hamas. Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes were later released in southern Gaza along with five Thai nationals.
The exchange, carried out in two different locations in Gaza, witnessed the presence of Islamic Jihad and Hamas gunmen, wearing masks, headbands and camouflage uniforms overseeing the handover.
The sites of exchange where a convoy of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) reached in their five vehicles were surrounded by the ruins of homes and markets, stark reminders of a war zone now 482 days old.
The Israeli military confirmed that seven hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross, including two Israeli citizens—29-year-old Arbel Yehud and 80-year-old Gadi Moses—along with five Thai workers.
In a separate operation earlier in the day, another Israeli hostage, 20-year-old Agam Berger, was released in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Berger was taken onto a stage by armed gunmen before being transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross officials and vehicles.
In contrast to previous exchanges, the situation on the ground quickly spiralled into disorder. Jubilant crowds, waving flags and chanting slogans, gathered in large numbers to capture the moment on their mobile phone cameras. The sheer density of the crowd made it difficult for the Red Cross convoy to navigate through the streets, with armed gunmen having to clear a path for the vehicles. The hostages were then transferred to Israeli forces at the border and taken for medical evaluation upon arrival in Israel.
In accordance with the ceasefire agreement, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners today after couple of hours. This follows previous releases as part of the deal, which stipulates that 33 Israeli hostages would be freed in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian detainees during the first phase of the truce. So far, seven Israeli hostages have been released in earlier exchanges, and eight others have been confirmed dead by Israeli authorities.
The ceasefire deal, which began on January 19, will shape up into three phases, released over a 42-day period. It remains uncertain how future exchanges will unfold, given the growing logistical challenges and heightened public involvement at the exchange sites.
Alongside the Israel-Hamas agreement, five Thai hostages were also released today in a separate agreement at Khan Younis and were taken into the Red Cross vehicles.
The Thai government has been closely involved in securing the release of its citizens, many of whom were working in Israeli farms when they were taken captive during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Their names have not been officially confirmed, but reports suggest they include Bannawat Seatho, Nattapong Pinta, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamna, and Pongsak Tanna.