Eight hostages three Israeli and five Thai nationals were released from captivity in Gaza on Thursday.
Israeli soldier Agam Berger was the first to be released by Hamas. Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes were later released by Palestinian Islamic Jihad in southern Gaza, along with five Thai nationals, whose names have not been made public,CNN reported.
Israeli authorities are also expected to release 110 Palestinian prisoners today. Of those, 32 were sentenced to life imprisonment, and another 30 are children, according to Hamas.
In phase one the current phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, a total of 33 Israeli hostages taken captive by Hamas and other armed groups in the October 7 attacks are supposed to be freed. Israel is expected to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in turn.
Two rounds of releases have already taken place. Eight of the remaining Israeli hostages set to be released are dead, according to the Israeli government.
The transfer of the hostages took place in front of the ruins of the family home of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the armed wing of Hamas in Gaza, who was killed by Israeli forces late last year.
Five Thai nationals abducted on 7 October were also released. They are among eight Thai citizens who were being held in Gaza. A number of Thai citizens were working as laborers in southern Israeli communities when Hamas launched its 7 October attacks.
Gadi Mozes is a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz. His partner Efrat was killed as he was abducted the same day.
