Israel receives 3 Israeli hostages and 5 Thai nationals.
According to the ceasefire treaty, Hamas handed over three Israelis and five Thai hostages in Gaza on Thursday, but though that Israel refused to release in return the Palestinian prisoners after chaotic scenes at one of the handover points, where large crowds swarmed around the captives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the decision by them saying that the sight of their chaotic handover was shocking and threatened death to anyone hurting hostages.
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered with the delay to release of the prisoners “until the safe exit of our hostages in the next phases is assured”.
The mediators had committed to ensuring the safe passage of hostages in future handovers.PM of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu
Later on, Thursday, buses arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah carrying some of the 110 Palestinian prisoners to be freed as part of the phased agreement that halted more than 15 months of war in the coastal territory on January 19.
Palestinian health officials said at least 14 Palestinians were hurt by Israeli fire, some with live and rubber bullets, others from gas inhalation, as they gathered at the entrance to Ramallah to welcome the freed detainees. Israel didn’t comment on this issue.
