
AKIPRESS.COM - Hamas freed eight hostages — three Israelis and five Thai nationals — Thursday as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, the Israeli military said, The Washington Post reported.
In exchange, Israel freed 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The release of the Palestinians had been delayed "until the safe exit of our hostages in the next phases is assured," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, referring to chaotic scenes in Gaza surrounding the hostage release Thursday, when a crush of civilians crowded around the hostages as fighters attempted to hand them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Among those released hostages is 20-year-old IDF soldier Agm Berger. She spent 482 days in captivity. 29-year-old Arbel Yehud and 80-year-old Gadi Mozes were released also. Yehud's partner and brother are still in captivity.
Of the 110 Palestinian prisoners, 32 were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 48 were serving long sentences. There are also two 15-year-old teenagers, and another 30 people are under 18. Of the released prisoners, 21 are to be deported abroad.
According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, 31 Thai citizens were kidnapped during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, most of whom were released by the end of the year. In total, about 30,000 Thai citizens live in Israel.
Hamas previously released seven hostages, and Israel freed 290 prisoners.
The fourth swap is scheduled for the weekend, but Hamas on Wednesday accused Israel of jeopardizing the deal by holding up supplies of fuel, tents, heavy equipment and other supplies.
Meanwhile, more than 500,000 Palestinians have returned home to northern Gaza since the crossings opened over the weekend.