Israel and Hamas were set to carry out their third hostage-prisoner exchange on Thursday, as part of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war. Three Israeli hostages and five Thai captives were slated for release, while a fourth exchange is planned for the weekend.
However, tensions escalated as Hamas accused Israel of delaying aid deliveries, a claim Israel dismissed as “fake news.”
Hostages and Prisoners to Be Released
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the release of three Israelis: Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Moses. Five Thai nationals held in Gaza were also set to be freed.
Sources within Hamas and the allied militant group Islamic Jihad reported that the exchange was scheduled to take place at the Jabalia refugee camp and Khan Yunis around 0900 GMT. Ahead of the release, Islamic Jihad aired footage showing Moses and Yehud embracing and smiling.
On Wednesday, the Moses family expressed their relief in a statement, saying they had received “with great excitement the wonderful news of our beloved Gadi’s return.”
Ceasefire and Exchange Details
The ceasefire, which began on January 19, is centered on the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody.
To date, Hamas has released seven hostages, while Israel has freed 290 Palestinian prisoners. In this latest exchange, Israel is set to release 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group.
A fourth swap, scheduled for Saturday, will see three more Israeli men released, according to Netanyahu’s office.
Aid Dispute Amid Humanitarian Crisis
The ceasefire has allowed humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, where the war has caused a severe humanitarian crisis. However, Hamas officials accused Israel of slowing aid deliveries, citing critical shortages of fuel, tents, heavy machinery, and other essential supplies.
“Under the agreement, these materials were supposed to enter during the first week of the ceasefire,” one Hamas official stated.
“We warn that continued delays and failure to meet these commitments will disrupt the natural progression of the agreement, including the prisoner exchange.”
Israel denied the allegations, with a spokesperson for COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body overseeing Palestinian civilian affairs, calling the claims “totally fake news.”
According to Israeli officials, 3,000 aid trucks entered Gaza between Sunday and 1100 GMT on Wednesday, though the agreement stipulates 4,200 trucks over seven days.
As the ceasefire terms—brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States—have not been publicly disclosed, AFP could not verify specific details regarding aid provisions. Hamas officials stated that they raised these concerns in a meeting with Egyptian mediators on Wednesday.
Displacement and Political Reactions
The ceasefire deal is currently in its first 42-day phase, during which 33 hostages are expected to be freed. The next stage will involve negotiations for a long-term resolution to the conflict, while the final phase aims to reconstruct Gaza and facilitate the return of any remaining deceased hostages.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed credit for brokering the agreement, despite its implementation just before his successor’s inauguration. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who participated in the negotiations, met with Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday.
Trump has invited Netanyahu to the White House on February 4, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office.
Following the truce, Trump promoted a controversial proposal to “clean out” Gaza by relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries like Egypt or Jordan—a suggestion widely rejected by both nations and European governments.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called the forced displacement of Palestinians an “injustice that we cannot take part in.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed “the need to keep the Palestinians on their land and ensure their legitimate rights in line with the Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution.”
Palestinians Returning to Devastation
More than 376,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza since Israel reopened access earlier this week, according to the UN humanitarian office (OCHA). However, many have found their homes reduced to rubble.
“My house is destroyed,” said 33-year-old Mohammed Al-Faleh. “This morning, we built a small room with two walls using the remains of our home. There is no cement, so I used mud.”
“The biggest problem is the lack of water—all the wells are destroyed,” he added.
“Food aid is arriving, but there’s no gas or electricity. We bake bread over fires fueled by wood and nylon.”
As the ceasefire continues, negotiations and aid efforts remain critical in determining the future of both the hostages and the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
