Hamas-affiliated militants released hostages from Israel and Thailand that it had kept for over a year on Thursday, Jan. 30. The hostages had to be escorted through a chaotic crowd in Gaza.
Unlike previous transfers, throngs of people, including militants, journalists and spectators, surrounded a group of soldiers escorting hostages out, with some in the crowd chanting in Arabic and some of the soldiers holding up rifles.
The three Israeli hostages were 80-year-old Gadi Moses, 20-year-old Agam Berger, a female soldier, and 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu objected to the conditions during the hostage release, accusing Hamas and its affiliated groups of violating the hostage release terms in the ceasefire agreement the two sides reached earlier this month.
Israel temporarily delayed its corresponding release of Palestinian prisoners Thursday before ultimately doing so later in the day.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which facilitated some of the previous hostage releases—including the first one on Jan. 19—called out the conditions in a statement.
“We are relieved that more people have been safely returned home. However, today’s conditions underscore the importance of all parties upholding their agreements and ensuring operations take place in a safe and dignified manner,” said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the ICRC. “The security of these operations must be assured, and we urge for improvements in the future.”
