Three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists were freed on Thursday following 481 days in captivity in the third hostage exchange under the Gaza cease-fire deal.
Agam Berger, 19, Gadi Moses, 80, and Arbel Yehud, 29, were received by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which coordinated with Hamas to secure the handover in the Gaza Strip.
Released hostage soldier Agam Berger meets her four comrades, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, who were released from Hamas captivity last week, at a hospital in central Israel. IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The five former Thai hostages on their way to Israel GPO Israel
Agam Berger seen in the northern Gaza Strip, on Jan. 30, 2025. REUTERS
Israeli hostages, left to right, Arbel Yehoud, 29, Gadi Moshe Moses, 80, and Agam Berger, 19, were freed on Thursday.
As with the previous exchanges, the hostages were forced to join the Hamas parade celebrating the hand-off, with the hostages now en route to meet with Israeli soldiers to escort them home.
Berger, 19, was the last female IDF soldier in Hamas captivity after the terrorists freed four of her colleagues last week, all of whom were kidnapped from a southern military base during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
The troops were featured in cruel propaganda video touting their capture as the bloodied women were surrounded by the bodies of their fellow soldiers, with the terrorists threatening sexual violence against them.
Joining Berger is Yehud, whose surprise exclusion from last week’s exchange threatened to sink the cease-fire deal as it was agreed that female civilians would be freed before soldiers.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Islamist terror group in Gaza, later revealed it had Yehud in custody and released a propaganda video on Monday claiming the 29-year-old was doing “OK.”
Arbel Yehud was handed over to a Red Cross team, Khan Yunis, on Jan. 30, 2025, as part of their third hostage-prisoner exchange. AFP via Getty Images
Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Moses are seen at an unspecified location in this screengrab from video released on Jan. 30, 2025. via REUTERS
Footage of Agam Berger being held captive by Hamas was released on May 22, 2024. via REUTERS
Former hostage Arbel Yehoud reuniting with her family. IDF Spokespersons Unit
Former hostage Gadi Moshe Mozes (80) in a first picture with his loved ones. IDF Spokespersons UnitBoth Yehud and Moses were kidnapped from their homes in the Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Hamas terrorists also killed Moses’ partner, Efrat Katz.
Moses’ ex-wife, Margalit Moses, and their daughter and two grandchildren were also kidnapped and later freed during the first hostage exchange in November 2023.
His family has been worried about his condition after nearly 16 months in captivity, with the elderly man celebrating his 80th birthday as a hostage last March.
Agam Berger being welcome by her parents after her release by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, on Jan. 30, 2025, in Israel. Israel Army/AFP via Getty Images
Gadi Moses getting taken to Gaza by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
Released hostage Gadi Moshe Mozes meets his children after 482 days in Hamas captivity. Facebook / Yair MosesHamas also released five Thai nationals on Thursday, with officials saying that now only three Thai men remain in captivity.
The terror group kidnapped 33 Thai nationals during the Oct. 7 attack, many of whom were working in southern Israeli farms when Hamas launched its invasion.
