Three Israeli and five Thai hostages released by Hamas

Hamas has released three Israeli and five Thai hostages today in exchange for the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners from Israel.

This is the third such exchange since the ceasefire deal in Gaza was reached earlier this month.

Three Israeli hostages — Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 20, and Gadi Moses, 80 — have been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) along with five Thai nationals.

Thousands of people gathered around the second handover site in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis

The names of the five Thai hostages have not been made public.

Israeli authorities are, in turn, expected to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 children.

The first handover took place in Jabalia refugee camp in Northern Gaza on Thursday morning.

Hamas hands the first Israeli hostage Agam Berger over to the International Committee of the Red Cross

Footage showed Agam Berger, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier who was held by Hamas, being led to a stage before being handed over to the ICRC.

The other seven hostages were released in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza strip, by Palestinian Islamic Jihad today.

Hostage Agam Berger’s family celebrate in Holon, Israel

Arbel Yehoud was the first hostage confirmed to be released in the second handover this morning. Six more captives were understood to be inside the van.

Yehoud and the other Israeli hostage, Gadi Moses, were being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who published a video of the pair early on Thursday meeting and hugging.

The video was approved for publication by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes, hostages held in Gaza, are seen at an unspecified location

Thailand’s ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, said she was “holding her breath” along with the entire country of Israel for the release of five Thai agricultural workers who were kidnapped on October 7.

“We have nothing to do with this conflict, they just happened to be there, and they are working tirelessly on the farms and kibbutzes,” said Chandraramya.

The second handover display is taking place just steps from the home of the former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli military in November.

A total of 33 Israeli hostages taken captive by Hamas and other armed groups are supposed to be freed in phase one of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, which is expected to last six weeks.

Israel will, in exchange, release almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase.