On Thursday, Hamas released three Israeli and five Thai hostages in Gaza, but the anticipated release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel was delayed due to chaotic scenes at a handover point. Large crowds swarmed the captives, creating a tense situation.

Among those released was 29-year-old Arbel Yehud, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Yehud appeared visibly fearful and struggled to walk as armed militants transferred her to the Red Cross amidst a surging crowd in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Among those released was 80-year-old Israeli hostage Gadi Moses, along with five Thai nationals who had been working on Israeli farms near Gaza when militants breached the border fence, according to the Israeli military.

In Thailand, the mother of one of the freed Thai hostages anxiously watched a livestream of the handover from her home in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, awaiting confirmation of her child's safety.

"Please, let my son walk out now, I want to see his face," Wiwwaro Sriaoun, 53, said as the footage on her phone showed a vehicle moving slowly through the crowd.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the chaotic scenes during the hostage handover as shocking and issued a warning of severe consequences for anyone harming captives. He urged mediators to prevent similar incidents in future exchanges.

As part of the phased agreement that halted fighting in Gaza earlier this month, a total of 110 Palestinian prisoners were scheduled for release on Thursday. However, an Israeli official involved in the operation stated that buses carrying the detainees had been instructed to return to prisons, seemingly in response to the disorderly handover. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed they had ordered a delay in the releases "until the safe exit of our hostages in the next phases is assured."

Later, an Israeli official indicated that an understanding had been reached, and Palestinian prisoners would be released at 1700 local time (1500 GMT). A Palestinian source confirmed that the Red Cross had informed Hamas of the planned release.

Earlier in the day, in Jabalia, northern Gaza, Israeli soldier Agam Berger was also freed. Wearing an olive green uniform, she was led through a narrow alley flanked by heavily damaged buildings and piles of rubble before being handed over to the Red Cross.

"Our daughter is strong, faithful, and brave," a statement from her family said. "Now Agam and our family can begin the healing process, but the recovery will not be complete until all the hostages return home."

A video released by Netanyahu's office showed a pale Berger crying and smiling while sitting on her mother's lap.

Netanyahu has faced domestic criticism for not securing a hostage deal sooner, particularly following the security lapses that enabled Hamas’s attack on October 7.

Despite sustained bombardment from one of the most advanced militaries in the Middle East for over 15 months, Hamas continues to maintain a strong presence in Gaza. The group has remained resilient even after the assassination of its leader, Yahya Al-Sinwar, as Israel persists in its stated objective to dismantle Hamas entirely.

"The killing of leaders only makes the people stronger and more stubborn," senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said of Sinwar, filmed by an Israeli drone badly wounded throwing a piece of wood at the device in his final defiance of Israel.

The latest hostage release in Khan Younis took place near the bombed remains of Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar’s house.

As part of the phased exchange, Palestinian prisoners—including 30 minors and several convicted members of Palestinian groups responsible for deadly attacks in Israel—were expected to be transported to the West Bank or Gaza.

In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered in what has come to be known as Hostages Square, where emotional scenes unfolded as people cheered and cried while watching the hostage release on a giant screen. The freed hostages were immediately taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Among those present at the square was Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, who received cheers from some in the crowd, seemingly in appreciation of his role in brokering the ceasefire deal. Witkoff shook hands with the families of hostages and other attendees.

The October 7 Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 250 hostages, marking the deadliest single assault on Jews since the Holocaust. In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed over 47,000 Palestinians and devastated much of the territory, where 2.3 million residents now face severe shortages of medicine, fuel, and food.

During a prior ceasefire the following month, about half of the hostages were released, while others have since been recovered either alive or dead through Israeli military operations in Gaza. Israel currently lists 82 individuals as still being held in Gaza, with around 30 declared dead in absentia.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans have attempted to return to their homes in northern Gaza, only to find many of them uninhabitable amid widespread destruction and shortages of essential goods.

As the war, triggered by the Hamas attack, continues, Israel has intensified its operations against Hamas leadership and other regional adversaries, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, delivering significant blows to Iran’s network of proxies in the Middle East. The fall of Iran-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has also been seen as a strategic gain for Israel.

Additionally, since the Gaza ceasefire took effect, Israeli forces have ramped up military operations in the West Bank, citing efforts to target militants in the territory.