Hamas to release three Israelis and five Thai nationals

As part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, officials have confirmed that three Israelis and five Thai nationals will be released in the next hostage exchange.

This release marks another step in the fragile peace process following Hamas’ October 7 attack, which triggered the war in Gaza.

The Israeli hostages include 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud, 19-year-old Agam Berger, and 80-year-old Gadi Moses. Their families have authorised the release of their names to the public. The identities of the five Thai nationals have not been revealed.

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The hostage swap is part of a phased release arrangement, which sees Hamas freeing hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. The long-awaited deal gained further traction after pressure from the Biden administration and strong remarks from former U.S. President Donald Trump.

This additional release was not initially planned but follows tension between Israel and Hamas over the weekend’s hostage exchanges. Israel had insisted that Yehoud be included in the previous release, and after this was not met, movement restrictions were placed on Palestinians attempting to return to northern Gaza.

International diplomatic efforts ultimately secured this extra release, allowing the movement of displaced Palestinians to resume. Another round of hostages are expected to be freed on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the pause in fighting has brought the devastation in Gaza into sharp focus, with calls for broader humanitarian solutions. These calls have sparked controversy, particularly after President Trump suggested that Egypt and Jordan take in displaced Palestinians – a proposal both countries and Palestinian leaders have rejected.

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