Israeli Hostages Freed After 481 Days in Captivity
Three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists have finally been freed after 481 days in captivity. This marks the third hostage exchange under the Gaza cease-fire deal, bringing hope and relief to the families of those who were held captive.
The hostages, Agam Berger, 19, Gadi Moses, 80, and Arbel Yehud, 29, were received by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. The Red Cross played a crucial role in coordinating with Hamas to secure the handover of the hostages.
As part of the exchange process, the hostages were forced to join a Hamas parade celebrating their release before being escorted by Israeli soldiers back home. Berger, the last female IDF soldier in Hamas captivity, had been held captive since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack along with her colleagues.
Yehud, who was excluded from the previous exchange, was also released. Palestinian Islamic Jihad had revealed that they were holding Yehud and released a video claiming that the 29-year-old was doing “OK.” Both Yehud and Moses were kidnapped from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Hamas terrorists also killed Moses’ partner.
In addition to the Israeli hostages, Hamas also released five Thai nationals on Thursday, leaving only three Thai men still in captivity. The Thai nationals were among the 33 individuals kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attack, many of whom were working in Israeli farms at the time.
The families of the hostages can finally breathe a sigh of relief as their loved ones are reunited with them after a long and harrowing ordeal. The cease-fire deal has once again brought hope for peace and reconciliation in the region.
