Hamas has announced that they will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, as well as five Thai nationals in the upcoming hostage release scheduled for Thursday. The Israeli women are Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Agam Berger, 20, along with Gadi Moses. The identities of the Thai nationals have not been disclosed.
These individuals were among the foreign workers and Israeli civilians and soldiers captured during Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. The ceasefire, which began earlier this month, has paused the 15-month conflict in Gaza.
Hamas is releasing hostages in stages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The prisoners range from those detained for minor offenses to senior militants serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israeli civilians.
The negotiations for this exchange had been ongoing for months under the Biden administration and were finalized after President Donald Trump threatened consequences if the hostages were not returned.
The ceasefire's second phase discussions are set to resume, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington next week.
Thursday's hostage release was not initially planned but was prompted by a standoff over the identities of hostages released last weekend. International mediation efforts facilitated an additional release on Thursday, allowing for the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza.
The pause in fighting has revealed the extensive damage to Gaza's urban areas, prompting Trump's suggestion that Egypt and Jordan take in displaced Palestinians. However, both countries have rejected the idea, emphasizing the need for a Palestinian state.
The war has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with Palestinians expressing concerns about leaving their land permanently. The fear of not being allowed to return is compounded by the potential permanent displacement of Gaza's population.
Israel's far-right members advocating for rebuilding Jewish settlements in Gaza post-withdrawal in 2005 have raised additional concerns about the future of the region.
For more updates on the Israel-Hamas war, visit AP's war coverage.
