Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced scenes of Palestinians mobbing the Red Cross convoy of hostages in Khan Yunis as horrifying.

Jerusalem: Israel and Hamas were set to carry out their third hostage-prisoner exchange on Thursday, with three Israelis and five Thai captives slated for release as part of a ceasefire deal

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Thursday set free a total of eight hostages - three Israelis and five Thai nationals - who had been held since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. This marks the third round of releases since an initial six-week truce between Israel and the militant group Hamas in Gaza went into effect on January 19.

Hamas handed over Israeli woman soldier Agam Berger to the Red Cross in northern Gaza's Jabalia area on Thursday as part of a ceasefire with Israel, an AFP journalist reported.

CAIRO — The cease-fire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, mediator Qatar announced Saturday, as families of hostages held in Gaza braced for news of loved ones, Palestinians prepared to receive freed detainees, and humanitarian groups rushed to set up a surge of aid.

Israel issued directives to delay the release of Palestinian prisoners following the release of two Israeli hostages by Hamas in Khan Yunis, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. Israels

Israel PM Netanyahu criticized the mobbing of a Red Cross convoy by Palestinians in Khan Yunis as 'horrifying.' The incident delayed the transfer of two hostages and highlighted the cruelty of Hamas.

Israel is delaying the previously agreed release of 110 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails on Thursday after the chaotic handover of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the decision was taken by him and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

Israel has requested U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to intervene with mediators to prevent the recurrence of scenes that accompanied the release of two Israeli hostages in Khan Yunis, LBCI correspondent in Haifa Amal Shehadeh reported.

If anything, those images only strengthened the resolve of the vast majority that Hamas and Islamic Jihad must be destroyed. That these are barbarians with whom there is no common denominator. It only strengthened the public’s resolve that the country must ensure they never again have the means to carry out their evil designs and an understanding that this fight is far from over.

As two Israelis are freed in Gaza’s Khan Younis, Palestinians – many in celebration – gathered to watch the handover.