First pictures: Hostage Gadi Mozes reunites with his loved ones

Images that stunned viewers worldwide showed 80-year-old Gadi Mozes, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, walking through a massive crowd of Hamas operatives and Gaza civilians during his release on January 30, 2025. The footage captured the elderly hostage, visibly thin and pale after 482 days in captivity, maintaining his composure while surrounded by thousands during the tense transfer.

Mozes, taken from his kibbutz home during the October 7 attacks, was released alongside Arbel Yehoud and IDF soldier Agam Berger, as well as five Thai nationals. The chaotic scenes of his handover, marked by the presence of an overwhelming and aggressive crowd, have prompted serious concerns about the safety protocols of the transfer process.

The release process itself highlighted the precarious nature of these exchanges, with Mozes having to walk through a gauntlet of armed militants and civilians before reaching Red Cross vehicles. These dangerous conditions during the transfer have led to immediate demands from Israeli officials for stricter security measures in future exchanges.

Mozes has been transferred to an Israeli hospital for medical evaluation, joining other released hostages who are receiving care after their prolonged captivity. While his release brings hope to families still waiting for their loved ones, the disturbing scenes of his transfer have added urgency to calls for more secure handover procedures.