Three Israelis and five Thais freed from Gaza as Trump envoy meets hostages’ relatives
Three Israelis and five Thais freed from Gaza as Trump envoy meets hostages’ relatives
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Handover delayed by jostling crowd in Khan Younis, Gaza, with Netanyahu suspending release of Palestinian prisoners. Middle East crisis – live updates. Three Israelis and five Thai citizens held in Gaza have been freed, as Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy met hostages’ relatives, reportedly telling them he was optimistic the ceasefire would hold to allow the return of all the living and the dead.
![[Gadi Moses, 80, is escorted by Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters among a large crowd]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/57bc2057a3b09f9221be4df1bb925acf5cea09fc/0_252_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The handover on Thursday of seven hostages in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, was delayed by a chaotic crowd surging towards the group, despite an escort of heavily armed militants, jostling and blocking their passage to waiting Red Cross vehicles. Israel’s military confirmed that the Israelis Gadi Moses, 80, Arbel Yehoud, 29, and five Thai hostages – Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat and Rumnao Surasak – had all been handed over at about 1pm local time.
![[Crowds gather in Khan Younis ]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a87ff06fd71738fec631d05a9ba792be4981711f/0_435_7500_4500/master/7500.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Agam Berger, 20, the last female soldier held in Gaza, had been released earlier, from northern Gaza. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, attacked the “shocking scenes” in Khan Younis and suspended the planned release of Palestinian prisoners “until the mediators guarantee the safe exit of the hostages” in future.
![[The US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff (centre), in Tel Aviv.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/118d5b3454fcfd0bb397167160049fa878ef441e/0_39_5500_3300/master/5500.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners due to be freed were sent back to Israeli jails in the early afternoon, before a new release time of 5pm was announced. It was not the first crisis in a ceasefire deal that is not yet two weeks old. Yehoud had originally been listed for release on Saturday. When four female soldiers were handed over instead, Israel accused Hamas of violating the deal and suspended plans to allow Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza.
![[People in Tel Aviv gather in Hostages Square to watch the hostage swap between Hamas and Israel on a giant screen.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/96e08447672054b7249d2c1be995169e386e5113/0_0_5184_3110/master/5184.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
