Israel had delayed their release in protest against the way the eight hostages freed by Hamas were treated as they were handed over to Red Cross staff in Khan Younis. Israel has released Palestinian prisoners in exchange for eight hostages being held by Hamas, the third such swap since the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect.
The exchange of hostages for prisoners is a key part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas. The former prisoners were met by thousands of cheering Palestinians as they were bussed into the West Bank city of Ramallah. Hamas has so far released 15 hostages since 19 January, when the ceasefire came into effect.
The Palestinians released on Thursday bring the total of prisoners freed by Israel to But Israel delayed their release in protest against the way the hostages were treated as they were handed over to Red Cross staff in Khan Younis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a sharp rebuke, warning of consequences if any of the hostages were harmed.
We made it clear to the mediators that we do not intend to accept any risk to our hostages. And I add to that: whoever dares to harm our hostages β may his blood be on his head," he said in a televised statement. Moses was immediately transferred to a hospital in Tel Aviv, where his condition is said to be good.
It allows him to spend the first hours here with his family in a private environment, they can talk, they can be together, they can rest a little from this very exciting and not easy day," said Professor Gil Fire, the deputy director of the Ichilov Medical Centre. The agency said it had received no official communication from Israeli authorities about how the ban would be implemented, but a day earlier, around 25 international staffers left Jerusalem and decamped to the Jordanian capital, Amman.
