Eight hostages − three Israelis and five Thai nationals − were returned to Israel on Thursday after spending 482 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza. They were freed in an at-times chaotic handover in connection with a weeks-long ceasefire and hostages-for-prisoners swap between Israel and the militant group aimed at ending 15 months of fighting.

Crowds of spectators gathered around vehicles carrying hostages in southern Gaza on Thursday, raising fears the captives wouldn’t be released safely.