Hamas and Israel are exchanging hostages and prisoners today in the third swap of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Three Israeli hostages have been handed over and Israel is now releasing 110 Palestinians – after chaotic scenes earlier threatened to halt the release. Follow the latest below.
Thursday 30 January 2025 17:01, UK
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We’re closing our live blog covering the latest news in the Middle East, but we’ll be back if any breaking developments happen.
Until we return, here’s a quick recap of what’s been happening:
The day began with the release of Israeli hostage Agam Berger, who was freed on her own in Jabalia, north Gaza.
The 20-year-old Israeli soldier was handed over to the Red Cross before being transported to an initial reception facility in southern Israel, where she was reunited with her family.
Berger later met with female soldiers who were released last week and received a medical examination at a hospital in Tel Aviv.
Shortly after Berger’s release, attentions turned to Khan Younis, where two further Israeli hostages – German-Israelis Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes – as well as five Thai nationals were being set free.
In contrast to Berger’s release, the hostages in south Gaza were met by chaotic scenes and looked visibly distressed as they were shepherded towards Red Cross vehicles.
Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the scenes as “shocking” and “horrific”, announcing he was delaying the scheduled return of 110 Palestinian prisoners in response.
“This is further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” a statement from his office read.
Israel eventually proceeded with their plans to release the prisoners after receiving assurances from mediators that future hostage releases would be safer.
The process of releasing prisoners then began at around 3pm UK time.
Large crowds gathered in the West Bank as Red Cross buses began to arrive, despite earlier warnings from Israel not to celebrate the return of the prisoners.
By Alistair Bunkall, Middle East correspondent
The scenes in Khan Younis were chaotic, as seven of the hostages were led by masked and armed Hamas fighters and jostled through a crowd of hundreds trying to take photos.
The hostages, mostly invisible within the crowd, looked disorientated and frightened when they could briefly be seen.
Benjamin Netanyahu, watching on television, was reportedly furious and ordered the release of Palestinian prisoners be paused until Israel received guarantees those scenes wouldn’t happen again.
Apparently reassured, the 110 Palestinian prisoners were released as planned but slightly later in the day.
The drama in Gaza was unseemly and unnecessary, and created another road-bump for this fragile ceasefire deal.
But Palestinians point towards Israel’s use of tear gas against crowds in the West Bank celebrating the release of their prisoners as double standards.
Neither side has any trust in the other, which is no surprise, and both want to control the public narrative.
Yet whilst the bumps and disagreements create moments of concern, successful resolutions can also create confidence that the ceasefire is at least strong enough to overcome these issues.
How many times can that remain the case, though?
As Israel continues to receive more of its living hostages home, and as negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal come closer, many in Israel, particularly on the far right, will argue that the images of Hamas gunmen parading in Gaza and the tricks being pulled by the group, are reason enough to return to fighting.
We can now bring you some of the latest images from the West Bank, where Palestinian prisoners have been released by Israel.
Red Cross vehicles dropped off the prisoners, wearing grey tracksuits, in the city of Ramallah.
Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked Donald Trump after the US president passed an executive order to “combat antisemitism”.
The order asks federal agencies to explore ways to deport pro-Palestinian activists, including student protesters, who were found to have broken the law during protests.
“Thank you, @POTUS, for standing up for truth and justice,” Netanyahu posted on X.
Olaf Scholz has welcomed today’s release of hostages, two of whom were dual citizens of Germany and Israel.
“The German-Israeli citizens Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes are free,” the German chancellor wrote on X.
“We are relieved and rejoice with all the hostages who have been released.
“But the fact remains that all of the hostages must be released and all mortal remains of the deceased returned to the families.”
Among the Palestinian prisoners likely to get a “huge reception” in Ramallah when he is released is Zakaria Zubeidi, says Sky News correspondent Adam Parsons.
The 49-year-old is one of the most high-profile prisoners being released by Israel today.
“He is seen for some in the West Bank as a symbol of the second Intifada,” says Parsons.
“He is a man who took up arms against Israel and was held responsible for the 2002 Beit She’an bombing that killed six people.”
Zubeidi was removed from Israel’s most wanted list after laying down his weapons.
His pardon was subsequently rescinded in 2011 when he was detained, released again, and then detained again in 2019.
“We’ve already seen him on these coaches, signalling to his supporters,” says Parsons. “Look out, when that coach arrives in Ramallah, I think he is going to get a huge reception.”
A stick in Israel’s craw
Parsons says that Zubeidi’s release will likely be a “stick in the craw” for Israel.
“They will say this is a man responsible for multiple murders.”
Israel has tried to put barriers in place to stop celebrations happening in various West Bank towns (see 9.45am post).
Red Cross buses carrying Palestinian prisoners have now arrived in the West Bank, where they will release detainees.
Some 110 prisoners are due to be released by Israel today.
The family of Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud say they are “overwhelmed with emotion” following her release today.
“We want to thank everyone who made Arbel’s release possible,” a statement read, released via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum group.
“We are grateful to the people who have worked day and night in the struggle to bring back all our loved ones, never giving up throughout these painful, difficult, and far too long months.”
The family said their mission is “not yet complete”, with Ariel, Arbel’s partner, among those still being held captive in Gaza alongside his brother, David, and their friend Sasha.
Arbel’s brother Dolev was believed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, until in June 2024 when his remains were discovered in Israeli territory.
Israel has resumed its process to release Palestinian prisoners after an earlier delay, an official involved in the operation has told Reuters.
Buses carrying the detainees have now begun to arrive in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Their release had been delayed in response to “horrific” scenes in Khan Younis this morning, where two Israeli hostages were swarmed by crowds as they were handed over to the Red Cross.
Here’s the moment Israeli hostage Agam Berger was finally reunited with her family earlier this morning in Israel.
The 20-year-old soldier had been held in captivity in Gaza since she was abducted by Palestinian militants during the 7 October attacks.
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