Hamas-led militants released eight hostages Thursday in a delayed exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel, highlighting the fragile state of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The prisoner swap is a key component of the truce aimed at halting the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the deadliest conflict between the two in decades. Hamas continues to hold dozens of hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war.
Hamas also confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, the leader of its military wing and a mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack. The announcement came six months after Israel claimed he was killed in an airstrike.
The released hostages included three Israelis and five Thai nationals, all captured over 15 months ago while working on farms in southern Israel. The handover took place in Khan Younis, where thousands of Palestinians gathered, some on rooftops of bombed-out buildings.
Among the Israeli hostages, Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Moses, 80, both German-Israeli dual nationals, were released along with the five Thai laborers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned what he called “shocking scenes” of the chaotic handover and urged international mediators to ensure future releases proceed safely.
The 110 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel included 30 individuals serving life sentences for attacks against Israelis. While seven returned to the occupied West Bank, the remainder were transferred to Egypt for deportation.
Scuffles erupted outside Israel’s Ofer Prison in the West Bank as Palestinian teenagers threw stones at the convoy carrying the freed prisoners. Israeli forces responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Three Palestinians were reported injured.
Among the released prisoners was Zakaria Zubeidi, a former militant leader and key figure in a 2021 jailbreak. As he stepped off the transport bus, crowds lifted him into the air in celebration.
During a televised statement, Hamas’ military wing confirmed Deif’s death, along with four other senior leaders. Israel had previously announced their deaths in targeted strikes.
Deif, long atop Israel’s most-wanted list, played a critical role in Hamas’ military operations. Other leaders confirmed dead included Marwan Issa, Hamas’ second-in-command, and Rafaa Salameh, a top commander in Khan Younis.
As part of the ceasefire’s first phase, Hamas is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says Hamas has confirmed that eight of these hostages are dead.
Israeli forces have largely withdrawn from Gaza, allowing displaced civilians to return home. However, far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition have called for the war’s resumption once the ceasefire phase ends. Hamas insists it will not release remaining hostages without a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas launched the war with an unprecedented Oct. 7 assault, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has resulted in more than 47,000 Palestinian deaths, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel claims to have killed 17,000 militants but has not provided evidence.
With 90% of Gaza’s population displaced and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, the region faces an uncertain future as international mediators push for continued negotiations.
