Hamas Releases Eight More Hostages as Israel Frees 110 Palestinian Prisoners in Tense Exchange
On Thursday, January 30, Hamas-led militants freed eight more hostages in a chaotic handover that briefly delayed Israel’s release of 110 Palestinian prisoners. The tense exchange underscored the fragility of a ceasefire agreement that took effect earlier this month in the Gaza Strip.
The ongoing hostage-for-prisoner swaps are a crucial element of the ceasefire deal, which seeks to end the war that erupted after Hamas militants abducted dozens of Israelis on October 7, 2023.
Hamas also confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, the head of its military wing and one of the alleged masterminds of the October 7 attack, six months after Israel claimed to have killed him in an airstrike on Gaza.
The hostages freed by Hamas included three Israelis and five Thai nationals, who were working on farms in southern Israel when they were taken captive over 15 months ago.
Among the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel, 30 were serving life sentences for deadly attacks against Israelis. While seven were allowed to return to the occupied West Bank, the rest were sent to Egypt for further deportation.
The prisoner release followed a chaotic hostage transfer in Gaza. Hamas militants, some masked, moved captives through a massive crowd of Palestinians, leading to tense moments. Seven of the hostages were handed over near the ruins of the home of Yahya Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader killed in an Israeli strike.
One of the hostages, 20-year-old Israeli soldier Agam Berger, was paraded before a smaller crowd in the heavily destroyed Jabaliya refugee camp before her release. A separate, chaotic scene later unfolded in Khan Younis, where hostage Arbel Yehoud, 29, appeared shocked as masked militants rushed her through the shouting crowd. Also freed were Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old Israeli man, and five Thai laborers. Yehoud and Moses hold dual German-Israeli citizenship.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “shocking scenes” and urged international mediators to ensure the safety of hostages in future exchanges.
The released Thai hostages were identified as Watchara Sriaoun, 33; Pongsak Thaenna, 36; Sathian Suwannakham, 35; Surasak Rumnao, 32; and Bannawat Saethao, 27. Thai officials stated that they appeared to be in good health.
Twenty-three Thai nationals were among more than 100 hostages freed during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Israel reports that three Thai hostages remain in captivity, two of whom are believed to be dead.