Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed what he described as “shocking scenes” during the handover on Thursday of seven hostages including two Israelis.

“I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” Netanyahu said in a statement, after television images showed gunmen struggling to control hundreds of Gazans gathered to witness the handover.

“I demand that the mediators ensure such horrific scenes do not recur and guarantee the safety of our hostages,” Netanyahu added.

“Whoever dares to harm our hostages will pay the price.”

Chaos erupted in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis when the seven hostages were brought for the handover as hundreds of people crowded to witness the event.

The handover took place near the now destroyed childhood home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Onlookers scrambling to take pictures surrounded the Red Cross vehicles that had come to collect the hostages, an AFP correspondent reported.

The seven hostages were two Israelis, Gadi Moses and Arbel Yehud, and five Thais.

The television images showed crowds of Gazans taking pictures of Yehud, a woman civilian, as she was brought forward by masked gunmen for the handover.

A visibly upset Yehud was later seen in a Red Cross vehicle along with Moses.

|AFP