First of three Israelis to be freed from Gaza received by Red Cross as hostage releases begin
First of three Israelis to be freed from Gaza received by Red Cross as hostage releases begin
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It is the third exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners since a ceasefire was agreed nearly a fortnight ago. Hamas has handed captive Israeli soldier Agam Berger over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, the first of eight hostages set to be released today as part of a ceasefire in the enclave.
Hamas is due to release two more Israeli hostages as well as five Thai captives, and Israel is to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners, in the third such exchange since fighting paused earlier this month. Ms Berger, 20, was abducted alongside four other female soldiers, who were freed on Saturday.
She was filmed emerging from a heavily damaged building, flanked by more than a dozen militants, before being handed to the Red Cross. She was then driven to Israeli soldiers inside the Gaza Strip. A video from Ms Berger’s family home showed dozens of people celebrating as they watched her being released.
“This is the happiest moment of my life,” one of Ms Berger’s relatives told Israeli outlet Channel 12. “Now we can breathe again.”. The Israeli military confirmed shortly afterwards that Ms Berger had crossed the border back into Israel. She is believed to be heading to a reception centre in southern Israel where she will be reunited with her parents. She was held in Gaza for 482 days.
The other Israelis to be released are Arbel Yehoud, 29 and Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man. There was no official confirmation of the identities of the Thai nationals. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a militant group in Gaza separate from Hamas, posted a video of Ms Yehoud and Mr Moses preparing for the exchange.