Rescue of Rocky highlights delicacy of Israel-Hamas agreement
Israel's hostage release brings mixed emotions as delays highlight the delicate nature of the deal with Hamas While some are elated, tension remains as Hamas still holds around 200 captives in Gaza
Israel is now feeling tense instead of excited, as a delay in the release of Israeli hostages has revealed the fragility of the deal with Hamas. The tension was palpable at a rally in Tel Aviv, where demonstrators showed deep emotion for the hostages' families, while diplomatic efforts were underway to resume the release process.
Attendee Neta Rosenberg remarked, "This is the consequence of making a pact with the devil. If I feel this way, I can only imagine the anguish of the families of the hostages." Despite reports of the deal being reinstated, a sense of bitterness persisted, in stark contrast to the joyful scenes on Friday when the first batch of released Israeli hostages were reunited with their loved ones.
The agreement made with Hamas aims to swap the captives abducted on October 7 for Palestinian women and children held in Israel, a temporary four-day ceasefire, and expanded access to humanitarian aid in the blockaded territory. Hamas cited concerns over the amount of aid and the selection of released Palestinian prisoners as the reasons for the delay. However, Alex Sherman, whose son Ron was kidnapped from his army base near the Gaza border on October 7, expressed suspicion that the delay could be a tactic.
"He said they will go to any lengths to stall the negotiations. Finally, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, there was some relief when 17 hostages, including four Thai nationals and 9-year-old Emily Hand, an Irish-Israeli dual citizen, were permitted to leave Gaza and enter Israel."
Thirty-nine Palestinian teenagers and women were also released from Israeli prisons, per the terms of the exchange, on Saturday.
The top row includes Noga Weiss, Shiri Weiss, Adi Shoham, Naveh Shoham, and Yahel Shoham. In the middle row are Maya Regev, Noam Avigdori, Sharon Avigdori, Hila Rotem, and Emily Hand. The bottom row features Shoshan Haran, Alma Or, and Noam Or. Hostages Missing Families Forum/AP.
Cheering the hostages arrival
The scene on Saturday was a stark contrast to the jubilation that accompanied the release of the initial group of hostages, as crowds of spectators welcomed them at hospitals throughout Tel Aviv. The first batch of 24 individuals, which included 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino citizen, were set free on Friday. Almost all of the Israeli hostages who were released had been staying at the communal kibbutz of Nir Oz at the time of their abduction. Nir Oz suffered significant devastation during the attack, with over a quarter of the community either killed or still unaccounted for.
Yafa Adar, the community's founder and the oldest of all hostages known to have been taken on October 7, was one of those freed on Friday. Her abduction on a golf cart, driven by Hamas militants, had been captured on video over a month ago.
Palestinian prisoners freed from the Israeli Ofer military facility are celebrated with fireworks in Beitunia, West Bank, on November 24.
Yoni Asher, whose wife and two daughters were freed by Hamas on Friday, embraced his family on a hospital bed, speaking to them in Hebrew: "We'll be going home soon. We've just come here for the doctor to check us and then we're going home. We've prepared lots of dolls and toys for you, lights, and many other things."
The mother of a freed Thai hostage expressed her joy at being reunited with her daughter, Nutthawaree Munkan, in Israel. "I cried tears of joy when I saw her in two video clips. I recognized her hair and the way she walks," Boonyarin Srichan told CNN.
Joy in the West Bank
On October 7, Asian migrant workers in Israel, including those from impoverished areas in Thailand employed in the agricultural sector, were tragically targeted and harmed by Hamas.
Upon their release from Israeli prisons, Palestinians were greeted with jubilant celebrations as they made their way back to their hometowns and villages in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Among the recently freed were twenty-two women and two girls, along with fifteen teenage boys, the youngest being just 14 years old. The majority of them had been detained under administrative detention, a practice that has sparked widespread criticism for holding individuals without knowledge of the charges against them and without due legal process.
Aseel El-Titi, a 23-year-old former prisoner, expressed her mixed emotions upon being released on Friday. She revealed that she had only been informed of her release that morning and was saddened by the ongoing events in Gaza. El-Titi pointed out that the number of casualties in Gaza now exceeded the number of prisoners in Israeli jails.
As part of the agreement, Israel will release three Palestinians for every Israeli hostage allowed to leave Gaza. This release of an estimated 150 Palestinian prisoners is viewed as a strategic move by Hamas to strengthen its image as the leader of Palestinian resistance in the West Bank.
Released Palestinian prisoners arrive to Beitunia, west of Ramallah, on Friday.
Amid the extensive coverage of the hostage release in Israeli media, concerns arise about the fate of the remaining hostages in Gaza. The current truce only includes the release of 50 Israeli women and child hostages.
Relatives of Israeli male hostages are urging the international community to make a renewed effort to secure the release of their loved ones. There is also concern about the potential strategic advantage that the pause in fighting might give Hamas.
"We have a long battle ahead of us," said Nadav Rudaeff, whose 61-year-old father is currently being held in Gaza, during a press conference. "The fight is not yet finished."
CNNs Oren Liebermann, Joseph Ataman, Clarissa Ward, Kocha Olar, Manveena Suri, Eve Brennan and Lauren Izso contributed to this report.
