Hamas is set to release three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals on Thursday as part of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire deal, according to Israeli officials. The Israeli hostages include two women—29-year-old civilian Arbel Yehud and 20-year-old military observer Agam Berger—along with 80-year-old Gadi Moses. In exchange, Israel will release 110 Palestinian prisoners, including at least 30 women and children, as well as individuals serving life sentences.
The release of the Thai nationals, who are reportedly agricultural workers abducted from Israel, is a unilateral move by Hamas and not part of the ceasefire agreement. Thailand has confirmed that six of its citizens remain hostage in Gaza, while two others are believed to have been killed.
Arbel Yehud was abducted from her home in Nir Oz during the 7 October attacks. Her partner, Ariel Cunio, and his brother, David, remain in captivity. Arbel's brother, Dolev Yehud, was initially thought to be a hostage but was later declared dead after his remains were identified.
Gadi Moses, an agricultural expert, was also taken from Nir Oz. His partner, Efrat Katz, was killed in the attack. His family last saw him in a Hamas propaganda video in December 2023.
Agam Berger, a military observer, was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base on 7 October. She was taken alongside four other female soldiers, who were released in a previous exchange.
The five Thai nationals set to be released are among several agricultural workers abducted from Israel. Thailand has identified six other citizens still held hostage: Watchara Sriuan, Bannawat Seatho, Sathian Suwannakham, Nattapong Pinta, Pongsak Tanna, and Surasak Lamnau. Two others, Sudthisak Rinthalak and Sonthaya Oakkharasri, are believed to be dead.
The ceasefire, which began on 19 January, has already seen two rounds of hostage releases. In the first exchange, three Israeli women and 90 Palestinian prisoners were freed. The second exchange involved the release of four Israeli soldiers in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners. A fourth exchange, involving three male hostages, is expected on Saturday.
The hostage crisis stems from Hamas’s 7 October 2023 cross-border attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed over 47,310 people, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
Among the hostages freed earlier were Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, and Liri Albag, all of whom were kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base. Their families have shared harrowing accounts of their captivity and expressed relief at their release.
The first group of hostages released in January included Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, who were reunited with their families after enduring months of captivity. Emily, a Tottenham Hotspur fan with strong ties to the UK, was shot during her abduction and lost two fingers.
Before the ceasefire, Israel estimated that 94 hostages remained unaccounted for, with only 60 believed to be alive. The current deal involves the release of 26 Israeli hostages in its first phase, though Israel has stated that eight of them are dead, based on information provided by Hamas.
The international community continues to monitor the situation, with hopes that further exchanges will bring an end to the humanitarian crisis and pave the way for lasting peace.