Israel has started the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners after a delay, following a chaotic handover process earlier on Thursday. The release is part of a deal in which Israel freed three of its citizens and five Thai nationals held captive in Gaza. Two buses, carrying the Palestinian prisoners, left from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank after Israel received assurances from mediators regarding the future safety of hostages.
The prisoners being freed include 30 minors, with the release taking place in exchange for three Israeli civilians, including Arbel Yehud, who had been abducted during the October 7 attack by Hamas. The transfer process was delayed due to chaotic scenes in Khan Younis, where Yehud struggled to walk through a crowd of onlookers.
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Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, ordered the delay to ensure the safety of Israeli hostages in future releases. Netanyahu condemned the disorganized handover and emphasized the need for secure exchanges in the future.
The release comes as part of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, with hopes of improving the situation for hostages and prisoners. Despite setbacks for Israel, including the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar, Hamas remains entrenched in Gaza.
