• 8 Hostages Released: Israel welcomed home eight hostages on January 30 who had been held captive in Gaza by the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group following its assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. In the third hostage transfer since the ceasefire deal was agreed to earlier this month, Hamas released one male and two female Israeli hostages: Gadi Moses, 80; Agam Berger, 20; and Arbel Yehoud, 29. Five Thai hostages were also released: Watchara Sriaoun, 33; Pongsak Thaenna, 36; Sathian Suwannakham, 35; Surasak Rumnao, 32; and Bannawat Saethao, 27.
• Mobs Threatened Hostages During Handover: In return, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners, including approximately 30 serving life sentences. Their release was delayed over Israel’s anger at the chaotic scenes during the hostages’ handover to the Red Cross, in which armed Hamas terrorists led them through angry mobs of thousands of Gazans who threatened them. A recent report by Israel’s i24 News revealed that Hamas placed a journalist with the Qatari state-affiliated news network Al Jazeera in charge of staging the hostage releases for propaganda purposes.
• Negotiators Promise Safe Future Transfers: Israeli officials fumed at the handover chaos, which Israeli President Isaac Herzog described as “scenes of abuse and terror.” Before he and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the prisoner release to be delayed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he viewed the handover with “utmost severity” and as “additional proof of the inconceivable brutality of the Hamas terrorist organization.” The Prime Minister’s Office later released a statement noting that meditators conveyed a commitment to the “safe exit” of hostages in subsequent hostage releases.
“As with the previous releases of hostages under the current ceasefire deal, the welcome sight of three Israeli and five Thai nationals going home to be reunited with their families is countered by the disgust any decent person will feel at the howling mobs that were unleashed during their departure from Gaza. However much Hamas apologists would like to spin this, what we saw wasn’t a spontaneous outburst of passion, but a carefully choregraphed display by an Iran-backed terrorist organization whose overriding goal is to sustain the sheer hatred for Israel in the Palestinian street.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO
“The scenes of throngs of Gazan civilians in a desperate press to further terrorize these vulnerable hostages in their final minutes of captivity reminds Israelis that on October 7, thousands of Gazan civilians flooded into Israel to rape, torture, and murder. Unfortunately, the impulse to terrorize Israelis is rife within Gazan society. Destroying Hamas will alleviate, but not fix, the problems in Gaza.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Networks
“The images of hostages struggling to remain safe amidst an overwhelming crowd of Palestinians — which terrorists found increasingly difficult to contain — were deeply troubling. However, they also provided Hamas with the reassurance that despite the devastation armed groups brought upon Gaza, at least a portion of the Palestinian population continues to support their actions. These scenes serve as a critical warning to decision-makers in Jerusalem: if Hamas remains in power, Israel will inevitably face another major assault from Gaza.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal
“Hamas Agrees to Release Three Additional Hostages as Israel Partially Lifts Netzarim Closure,” FDD Flash Brief
“The Netzarim Corridor Has Become a Magnet for Hamas Attacks,” by Seth J. Frantzman
“‘Redeem Them From Death’: Israel Recovers Four Female Soldiers Held in Gaza for 477 Days,” FDD Flash Brief
“Released Palestinians Greeted with Terrorist Flags, Notorious Terrorists Set for Release in Future Rounds,” FDD Flash Brief