Hamas frees 8 more hostages

ISRAEL BEGINS PALESTINIAN PRISONERS RELEASING AFTER DELAY

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KHAN YOUNIS (GAZA STRIP): Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but the chaotic handover of some of the captives, who were shuttled through a rowdy crowd of thousands by masked militants, drew an angry protest from Israel.

Israel later began releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners after the swap was initially put on hold by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who demanded that mediators assure the safe exit for hostages going forward. He said later that he had received that commitment.

Hamas released seven of the hostages in front of the destroyed home of its slain leader, Yahya Sinwar, as thousands pressed in. The militant group called it a "message of determination", but it triggered the latest in a series of disputes that have sent US and Arab mediators scrambling to patch up the truce.

The ceasefire is aimed at eventually ending the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, and securing the release of dozens of hostages abducted in the militant group's October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.

A show of force as hostages are released The first hostage - female soldier Agam Berger, 20 - was released after Hamas paraded her in front of a smaller crowd in the heavily destroyed urban Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.