Three Israeli nationals and five Thai captives have been liberated as part of a staged ceasefire agreement that has temporarily ceased hostilities in Gaza.
The initial freed hostage, 20-year-old Israeli female soldier Agam Berger, was set free in northern Gaza.
Shortly thereafter, scenes turned tumultuous in the southern city of Khan Younis as footage displayed a bewildered Arbel Yehoud being escorted through a throng, surrounded by Palestinian fighters.
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Arbel Yehoud is surrounded as she is handed over to the Red Cross. Pic: Reuters
The Israeli civilian found herself at the heart of a controversy between Israel and Hamas last weekend.
There is a possibility that she was detained by Islamic Jihad, another militant faction in Gaza.
Additionally, another Israeli civilian, 80-year-old Gadi Mozes, was also liberated on Thursday.
Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Moses. Pic: Reuters
The Israeli defense forces have identified the five Thai individuals as Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat, and Rumnao Surasak.
In exchange for the freedom of the eight hostages, Israel was anticipated to release 110 Palestinians that are currently incarcerated, including minors, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
Among those listed are a 61-year-old individual held since 1992 and 30 teenagers, with the youngest being a 15-year-old boy.
Nevertheless, their release faced delays due to Israel’s condemnation of the “harrowing” experiences suffered by Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes during their transfer to the Red Cross.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the circumstances as “shocking” and “horrific”.
Palestinian militants release female Israeli soldier Agam Berger. Pic: Reuters
The latest anticipated exchange forms part of a fragile ceasefire – facilitated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt – that commenced on January 19 and has thus far remained intact, aimed at de-escalating the most lethal conflict ever waged between Israel and Hamas.
In the initial phase, Hamas released three Israeli soldiers, including British-Israeli Emily Damari, in exchange for 90 Palestinians, including a teacher who stated she had been detained for seven months.
Among the approximately 250 individuals abducted from Israel during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the conflict, some have perished while in captivity in Gaza, while others have been released or rescued.
More than 47,000 Palestinians are reported to have died in Israel’s military offensive, according to Gaza’s authorities controlled by Hamas, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
On Monday, hundreds of thousands of individuals from Gaza navigated through debris and dirt to return to what remained of their homes in northern Gaza Strip.
However, happiness was shadowed by sorrow as many encountered destroyed or looted properties, a lack of running water in the area, and severe shortages of essential supplies.
In addition on Thursday, a new law enacted in Israel prohibited the presence of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) from Israeli territory.
This has raised apprehensions regarding the potential closure of its educational institutions, medical services, and other essential operations in east Jerusalem – and possibly more so in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where UNRWA is the principal provider of assistance.
British MP Sarah Champion, who presides over the International Development Committee of MPs, labeled the prohibition as “devastating”.
“Essential services such as food, water, education, and even waste collection will be affected,” she expressed.
“In the strongest terms possible, I urge the UK government to take every measure it can to convene all parties and guarantee that UNRWA can continue its UN-mandated duties. The success of the current ceasefire is at stake otherwise.”
