The Red Cross says it's uncomfortable with the way the exchange of hostages for prisoners under the Gaza deal is handled. It's urged both sides to conduct future exchanges in a private and dignified way. Also in the programme: Why Baltic nations are only now joining the European energy grid – we hear from Latvia’s energy minister; and a Spanish member of the European Parliament tells us why the new Patriots Group of radical parties of the right believe they can change Europe. (Photo: Hamas fighters escort Ohad Ben-Ami, one of the three Israeli hostages released today, onto the stage before handing them over to the Red Cross. Credit: Haitham Imad / Shutterstock)
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.
Hello, I'm Katya Adler, host of the Global Story podcast from the BBC.
Each weekday we break down one big news story with fresh perspectives from journalists around the world.
From artificial intelligence to divisive politics tearing our societies apart from the movements of money
and markets to the human stories that touch our lives,
we bring you in depth insights from across the BBC and beyond.
Listen to the Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Hello, and welcome to NewsHour from the BBC World Service.
Coming to you live from London with me, Sean Lay.
We begin in Gaza, where on Saturday morning, after almost 500 days in captivity,
three more Israeli hostages were released by Hamas into the custody of the Red Cross.
Israelis have been angered by the propaganda value Hamas seems to be extracting from the releases.
And today, by the gaunt appearance of the men who were freed, they were, doctors said later, severely malnourished.
Hamas fighters had paraded the men in front of TV cameras,
requiring them to read out statements before the Red Cross received them.
The humanitarian organization has subsequently urged those involved to conduct future exchanges in a private
and dignified way.
Speaking in a video statement from Washington, where he spent much of the week,
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his vow to destroy Hamas and bring home those hostages who remain.
We have once again seen what monsters Hamas are.