According to a statement from the Israeli military, the two Israeli citizens and five foreign nationals were among those freed. The release process was confirmed by the Red Cross, which transported the hostages from Khan Younis to Israeli forces at the Karam Abu Salem crossing.
While the release brings relief to the families of the hostages, former Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voiced sharp criticism of the agreement. “We are happy and thrilled with the return of Agam, Arbel, and Gadi, whom we love, but the horrifying images from Gaza make it clear: This is not a full victory; this is a total failure, in an unprecedented reckless deal,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement on Telegram.
Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Hisham Zaqout, reporting live from the release site in Khan Younis, noted that Israeli hostage Gadi (Moshe) Mozes was escorted into the same vehicle as Arbel Yehud. Meanwhile, two other vehicles carried Thai hostages. All hostages were then transported to the Karam Abu Salem crossing to be handed over to Israeli forces.
The release was closely monitored by the Red Cross, although the situation in Gaza remains chaotic. The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that they were working to verify more information about the process. “The situation in Gaza is chaotic, and our teams are working to confirm this information,” a Red Cross representative revealed.
Despite the successful release, criticism from various Israeli factions continues. Ben-Gvir, who previously resigned as National Security Minister due to disagreements over the ceasefire deal, believes this move shows Israel’s inability to achieve a "complete victory" in Gaza.
The release of these seven hostages is part of an agreement reached between Israel and Hamas as part of ongoing efforts to end the prolonged conflict in Gaza. However, for many Israelis, the deal raises further concerns and has left a sense of dissatisfaction.