Israel freed 110 Palestinian prisoners after delaying the process due to anger over chaotic scenes at a hostage handover point.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the disorderly exchange as shocking and warned that anyone harming hostages would face death. He and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the delay until assurances were made for the safe exit of hostages in future transfers.

According to Netanyahu’s office, mediators later committed to ensuring secure handovers moving forward.

On Thursday, buses carrying some of the released prisoners arrived in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where cheering crowds welcomed them with chants of support.

Among those freed was Zakaria Zubaidi, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah. He had previously escaped from prison in 2021 with three other inmates but was later recaptured.