Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday condemned the crowds of Gazans that mobbed three Israeli hostages as they were being released by Hamas. “I view the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages as very serious,” wrote Netanyahu after the release of Arbel Yehud, Gadi Mozes, Agam Berger and five Thai citizens, all of whom were abducted to Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. “This is further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization. I demand that the mediators ensure that such horrific scenes do not recur, and guarantee the safety of our hostages. Those who dare harm our hostages do so at their own peril,” Netanyahu wrote. Footage from the release shows massive crowds, apparently in a state of jubilation, swarming around cars transporting the hostages and around the Hamas terrorists escorting the Israelis from the vehicles. Otzma Yehudit Party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir, a critic of the ceasefire deal who recently took his party out of the government because of it, called the display a “horror” scene demonstrating that “this is not a total victory but a total failure, in a reckless deal like no other. The government, he continued, “could have withheld humanitarian aid, fuel, electricity and water from the bloodthirsty mob that is now trying to lynch our hostages and crushed them militarily.” Israel has agreed to release 110 terrorists in exchange for the latest group of hostages... US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Thursday that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following the war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization could take between ten and fifteen years. “People are moving north to get back to their homes and see what happened and turn around and leave…there is no water and no electricity. It is stunning just how much damage occurred there," Witkoff told Axios after visiting Gaza this week. He added that there is “almost nothing left” in Gaza following the war and that the security arrangements at the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors are working "better" than he expected. "This is why I went to Gaza — to inspect the implementation because it is so important. How this happens will influence our ability to get to phase two of the deal," he said. According to him, "There has been this perception we can get to a solid plan for Gaza in five years. But it's impossible. This is a 10 to 15-year rebuilding plan." Witkoff also said that he had not discussed President Trump's suggestion that many Gaza residents be relocated to other countries during the reconstruction process with the President. 
Netanyahu condemns ‘unimaginable cruelty’ of Hamas after hostages mobbed:
Steve Witkoff: Almost nothing left in Gaza, reconstruction will take 10-15 years:
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