A crowd welcomes Palestinians formerly jailed by Israel as they arrive in a Red Cross convoy to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. AFP
Two buses carrying Palestinian prisoners departed Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, according to an AFP journalist, as part of the agreement for a truce in Gaza.
Nine Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails have arrived in the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported.
Footage aired by Al Jazeera showed emotional reunions as prisoners met their families after years of detention in Israeli prisons.
Nine prisoners are expected to return to the Gaza Strip.
Israel had suspended the planned release after chaotic scenes at a handover point in Gaza, where large crowds surrounded Israeli captives as they were set to be freed.
Netanyahu and the defence minister, Yisrael Katz, instructed prison authorities to postpone the transfer until the safe return of Israeli captives was confirmed.
Videos circulated by media on X showed Red Cross buses leaving Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank at 5 pm local time, heading towards Beitunia, Ramallah, where previous prisoner releases took place last week.
During the release, Israeli forces fired at their family members outside of Ofer prison, Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut reported.
Israeli military jeeps escorted the convoy with a heightened security presence to prevent public celebrations. At the same time, the bus windows were reportedly blacked out at Israel’s request to stop Palestinian prisoners from celebrating and flashing victory signs to cameras, as seen in previous releases.
Israeli forces are now raiding Beitunia, trying to prevent any celebrations among Palestinians, Salhut reported.
Earlier in the day, Hamas handed over three Israeli captives—civilians Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes, and a soldier, Agam Berger—along with five Thai nationals to the Red Cross.
Israel had demanded Yehoud’s release after Hamas failed to free her from Gaza on Saturday.
In response, it delayed the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza until the release was confirmed.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the deputy director general of the Ministry of Health said at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva: "We are receiving the returned hostages in four different hospitals."
"I am happy to inform you that all of the returned hostages have undergone an initial medical evaluation, and their medical condition is normal," the official added.
Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the freed Thai captives were expected to return home within 10 days.
"Though they seem to be in good health, they have been in captivity for 15 months ... I would think they should be able to return within 10 days," Ministry Spokesman Nikorndej Balankura told reporters.
Israel said it had received assurances from international mediators for the "safe release" of Gaza captives during future exchanges following the chaos that erupted during Thursday's handover of seven captives.
"Following Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu's request, the mediators have provided a commitment guaranteeing the safe release of our hostages who will be freed in the next phases," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
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