Hamas militants freed eight more hostages from the Gaza Strip on Thursday. The sometimes chaotic process delayed Israel’s initial release of 110 Palestinian prisoner and highlighted the fragility the ceasefire which began earlier in the month.

The exchange of prisoners for hostages is an important part of the ceasefire agreement that aims to end the most deadly and destructive war between Israel and Hamas. So far, hundreds of prisoners and 15 hostages have been freed. But militants are still holding dozens of hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war.

Hamas also confirmed Mohammed Deif’s death on Thursday. He was the head of Hamas’ military wing, and one of those alleged to be responsible for the attack of Oct. 7. Israel claimed that he had been killed six months earlier in an airstrike on Gaza.

Israelis were elated when images of freed hostages being reunited with their families was shown on live TV, and then repeated throughout the day. People gathered in downtown Tel Aviv to cheer and cry at the sight the ambulances.

Three Israelis were freed earlier by armed militants, after they had first paraded them through the unruly crowds of Gaza. Five Thais who worked on farms in southern Israel at the time of the deadly attack, which was the deadliest in Israel’s history, were also released.

On the other side, there was a very different kind of homecoming. Scores of Palestinians packed the buses that brought released prisoners to the West Bank town of Ramallah. Some people offered flowers in the colors and patterns of the Palestinian flag, as well as warm jackets for the men who were hoisted onto the shoulders of their supporters.

Israeli forces used tear gas to clear out the area after Palestinians had thrown stones at the prison.

Chaos as hostages are freed

After a fierce battle with thousands of Palestinians, militants in Gaza released the prisoners to the Red Cross.

Hamas freed seven hostages as the crowds pressed into the home of Yahya sinwar, its murdered leader. The militant group described it as a “message” of determination, but it nearly scuttled this month’s 3rd swap of prisoners for hostages and triggered a new dispute that has tested the durability the truce.

Hamas released the first hostage, a female soldier Agam Berker (20), after Hamas paraded in front of smaller crowds in heavily damaged urban Jabaliya Refugee Camp in northern Gaza.

Hours later at the handover ceremony for the remaining seven prisoners in the southern town of Khan Younis hundreds of militants of Hamas, and the smaller Islamic Jihad, arrived with a convoy.

Arbel Yehoud looked stunned in the footage as militants masked with masks pushed her back through the crowd. Gadi Moses (80 years old) and five Thai workers were also released. Moses and Yehoud are both dual German-Israeli citizens.

Israelis were unnerved by the scenes in Gaza of hostages being led through hostile crowds. They felt like they were participating in the ordeals of the hostages. Netanyahu condemned the “shocking” scenes and asked international mediators to guarantee the safety of future hostages. He said that he received a promise from them.

Israel has identified the Thai hostages as: Watchara Shriaoun (33), Pongsak Thaenna (36), Sathian Suwannakham (35), Surasak Rumnao (32) and Bannawat Saethao (27). Thai officials reported that they appeared in good health.

Yehoud was at the centre of a dispute this week about the order in which hostages were released. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States resolved the dispute by agreeing that Yehoud will be released along with the other hostages on Thursday.

Around 20 of her closest friends in southern Israel gathered to watch the tension unfold on live TV. After Yehoud’s handover to the Red Cross, they cried.

Moses was stunned when Israeli soldiers led him to his family. The Israeli military released footage showing his family members rushing into the room and embracing him. His daughter repeatedly exclaimed, “My father, my Father!”

Release of prisoners in the West Bank by well-wishers

Thirty Palestinian prisoners were freed for committing deadly attacks on Israelis. Seven were allowed to return home to the West Bank occupied, while the remainder were transferred to Egypt to await further deportation.

The Palestinians see the released prisoners as heroes, who made sacrifices for the cause to end Israel’s occupation of the lands that they desire for a future nation.

The families of Palestinian prisoners saw their loved ones for the first time through the windows of the Red Cross buses, which were shattered by the stone-throwing and tear-gas-firing.

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former theater director and militant leader who participated in an epic jailbreak in 2021 and was later rearrested by the authorities, was beaming in his checkered Palestinian keffiyeh. He was surrounded with cheering and whistling crowds. He wept while he hugged his family.

Ali Farajallah was recently released from prison after spending 22 years in jail for his involvement in the attacks against Israelis.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, rights groups have reported harsh treatment in Israeli prisons.

Hamas confirms death of longtime leader

Arab television networks interrupted the livestream of the Palestinian Prisoner Release to broadcast a Hamas press conference to confirm Deif’s death and that of four other Hamas members.

The confirmation was a strong blow for the militant group at least symbolically. This is because the elusive Deif, who had survived multiple assassination efforts, was considered a hero among Hamas members.

Israel announced the deaths of each of those five confirmed Thursday.

Hamas confirms its status as Gaza’s most powerful political force, despite Israel’s stated aim to destroy and remove it. Hamas militants welcomed Palestinians who returned to Gaza’s northern part earlier this week.

The ceasefire is in effect for the moment, but the next phase will be more difficult

In the first six-week phase, 33 hostages, including women and children, as well as older adults, sick or injured men, will be freed from Gaza. In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are set free. Israel claims that Hamas confirmed eight of the hostages who will be released during this phase have died.

Israeli forces have withdrawn from the majority of Gaza. This has allowed hundreds of thousands to return to their homes, and for humanitarian groups to increase aid.

Israel and Hamas are required to reach a second agreement.