DEIR AL-BALAH, Jan 30: Militants escorted Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud through a tumultuous crowd in Gaza ahead of her release, just hours after Hamas transferred a captive Israeli soldier to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. Yehoud is the second hostage released on Thursday out of eight expected as part of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas is scheduled to release one more Israeli hostage and five Thai captives, while Israel will release another 110 Palestinian prisoners, marking the third exchange since the fighting halted earlier this month.
Yehoud was at the heart of a dispute over the release sequence that temporarily disrupted the ceasefire over the weekend. Israel claims she was meant to be freed on Saturday, and her delayed release caused a postponement in opening crossings to northern Gaza.
This fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas aims to conclude the war in Gaza and secure the release of numerous hostages held by the militant group, alongside hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel.
During the ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have joyously returned to northern Gaza over the past three days. Nevertheless, the homecoming is tinged with sorrow, as nearly all have lost friends or family, and many neighborhoods in the north are now unrecognizable due to the devastation wrought by over 15 months of conflict.
Here are the latest updates:
Israel condemns chaotic scenes around hostage release
Israeli officials have lodged an official complaint with international mediators regarding the tumultuous scenes accompanying the release of hostages.
An Israeli spokesperson confirmed the complaint while speaking anonymously as the release was ongoing.
Militants guide second hostage through crowd before release
Militants led Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud through a chaotic gathering in Gaza ahead of her release, just hours after Hamas surrendered a captive Israeli soldier to the Red Cross.
Yehoud was involved in the controversy over the order of hostages being released, which briefly disturbed the ceasefire over the weekend. Israel insists she was supposed to be released on Saturday, delaying the crossing openings to northern Gaza in the process.
Israelis watch in anticipation as friend approaches release from Gaza
A group of friends of Arbel Yehoud, a hostage awaiting release on Thursday, observed in tears and tense silence as the Israeli hostage appeared to be freed, surrounded by a large crowd of Palestinians.
The friends sat quietly in a private residence in southern Israel, watching a broadcast of the large crowd gathering at the release location in Gaza. Some were in tears, while others covered their eyes or mouths in distress.
When a news anchor suggested conditions looked perilous, one person shouted at her to “be quiet.”
People began to cry as Yehoud was seen walking through the crowd with armed escorts, followed by reports that she had been handed over to the Red Cross.
Most in the group of approximately 20 were survivors of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, including three former hostages released during a ceasefire in November 2023.
Thai ambassador expresses hope
Thailand’s ambassador to Israel stated she was “holding her breath,” along with Australians, for the release of five Thai agricultural workers kidnapped on October 7.
“We have no involvement in this conflict; they just happened to be present since they work diligently on the farms and kibbutzes,” said Ambassador Pannabha Chandraramya, as she viewed footage from Gaza at the Israeli hospital where the Thai workers will be taken upon their return.
She added that despite the ongoing war, Thai agricultural workers continue to arrive in Israel. Before the attack, fewer than 30,000 Thai workers were in Israel, primarily employed in agriculture; this number has now increased to 38,000.
Chandraramya mentioned that the Thai government had informed the families of all six surviving Thai hostages, as it remains uncertain which five will be released. The bodies of two Thai hostages, who were killed on October 7, 2023, are also being held in Gaza.
The Shamir Medical Center, located outside of Tel Aviv, has several Thai-speaking social workers and psychologists available to assist the released hostages.
Israel claims to have intercepted Hezbollah drone
The Israeli military has announced the interception of a surveillance drone launched toward Israeli airspace by the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in late November, which brought an end to around 14 months of fighting. Under the agreement, both sides were required to withdraw their forces from southern Lebanon within 60 days.
This week marked the deadline, yet Israeli troops remain in Lebanon. The US reported that both parties have consented to extend the ceasefire through February 18 while Israel continues its withdrawal.
Both Israel and Hezbollah have repeatedly accused each other of breaching the terms of the agreement. (AP)
