KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but the chaotic handover of some of the captives, who were shuttled through a rowdy crowd of thousands by masked militants, drew an angry protest from Israel.

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Israel has reportedly lodged a formal protest with negotiators over the disorderly handover of hostages Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes to the Red Cross in Gaza. During the transfer in Khan Younis, the two civilian hostages were forced to navigate a chaotic scene,

Hamas handed captive Israeli soldier Agam Berger over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, the first of eight hostages set to be released today as part of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is set to free two more Israeli hostages as well as five Thai captives,

Israel on Monday began allowing Palestinians to return to the heavily destroyed north of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas, in accordance with a fragile ceasefire.