Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza under ceasefire deal

Eight more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been released amid chaotic scenes as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel.

Three Israelis and five Thai nationals were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas before being transferred to Israeli forces and taken to Israel.

A total of 110 Palestinians are due to be freed on Thursday. Israel delayed their release in response to the way the hostages were treated as they were handed over.

The Hamas-run Prisoners’ Media Office says it will now happen at 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT).

Thursday’s releases mean 15 hostages have been freed since the ceasefire came into effect on 19 January. Eighty-two are still being held.

Israeli soldier Agam Berger, 20, was the first to be released on Thursday – led by masked gunmen through a scene of rubble in a stage-managed event in Jabalia, in the north of Gaza.

Crowds of civilians were kept back by armed Hamas fighters as she appeared on a platform and was given a certificate, before being passed to the Red Cross.

About two hours later, at Khan Younis in the south, the seven other hostages were brought out amid pandemonium.

They were led by armed fighters through crowds of cheering spectators, many filming with mobile phones, before being handed over to the Red Cross in waiting vehicles.

It took place symbolically in front of the remains of the home – bombed by Israel – of late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the 7 October attacks. Sinwar was killed by Israeli troops in Rafah in October 2024.

In addition to Ms Berger, Israeli civilians Arbel Yehud, 29, and Gadi Moses, 80, and Thai agricultural workers Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao and Surasak Lamnao were freed.

In a sign of the precariousness of the ceasefire, the release of the prisoners was paused by Israel until it received assurances that the scenes which accompanied the release of the hostages in Khan Younis would not be repeated.

The prime minster’s office said it had since received from mediators “a commitment that a safe exit will be guaranteed for our hostages” yet to be released.

The postponement was the latest hitch to hit the delicate and complex reciprocal steps which Israel and Hamas have committed to under the terms of the ceasefire.

Israel delayed by two days allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza after Hamas failed to include Arbel Yehud in the last round of hostage releases which took place on Saturday.

Two hundred and fifty-one people were taken captive when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people. The attack triggered a war which has devastated Gaza.

Israel’s 15-month military offensive killed more than 47,300 Palestinians in the territory, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

So far, 290 Palestinian prisoners – ranging from those serving long sentences for bombings and other attacks to teenagers held without charge – have been released since the ceasefire began.

Most have returned to the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, while about 70 of the most serious offenders have been deported.