This handout image shows Palestinian Hamas fighters and civilians gathering around a Red Cross convoy in Jabalia during the handover of Israeli soldier Agam Berger (not pictured) who was held captive in Gaza since October 2023, as part of a third captive-prisoner exchange. AFP
Palestinian fighters from Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad had struggled to contain a crowd of hundreds while handing three Israeli and five Thai captives to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.
As with the previous captive exchanges the International Community of the Red Cross facilitated Thursday's transfers.
"Today's conditions underscore the importance of all parties upholding their agreements and ensuring operations take place in a safe and dignified manner," said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.
"The security of these operations must be assured, and we urge for improvements in the future."
The ICRC underlined that it "does not control the time of the release, the place, or the surrounding environment" for each transfer.
The eight captives were exchanged for the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
It was the third captive-prisoner swap under a January 19 ceasefire deal aimed at ending the more than 15 months of Israeli war on the devastated Gaza Strip.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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