Hamas fighters escort Isreali hostage Agam Berger (C) before handing her over to a Red Cross team in Jabalia on January 30, 2025. AFP
Hamas handed female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, 20, to the Red Cross at a ceremony in the heavily destroyed urban refugee camp of Jabaliya in northern Gaza. The Israeli government later confirmed that Berger was handed to its forces.
Another ceremony was planned in the southern city of Khan Younis to hand the other two captives in front of the destroyed home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Hundreds of people have attended both ceremonies, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters and onlookers.
The other two Israeli captives to be released Thursday are Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man.
Saraya Al-Quds, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad group, has completed the procedures for handing over Yehoud and Moses, who are planned to be released shortly from Khan Younis, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Radio reported that the Islamic Jihad is trying to exploit the release of the two captives to demonstrate its strength in Khan Younis.
Israel's Channel 13 stated that Tel Aviv was officially notified that Moses and Yehoud would be released from Gaza before 12:00pm (local time).
Israel said Yehoud was supposed to have been freed Saturday, so it delayed the opening of crossings to northern Gaza when she was not.
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar, which brokered the ceasefire after a year of tough negotiations, resolved the dispute with an agreement that Yehoud would be released Thursday.
Another three men captives are set to be freed Saturday, along with dozens more Palestinian prisoners.
Release of Palestinian prisoners
The Israeli Prison Service announced that Palestinian prisoners would be transferred from Ofer Prison to the release point in the West Bank, while the rest would be sent to the Karm Abu Salem crossing.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the internal security agency Shin Bet warned the families of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release Thursday against holding celebrations amid an ongoing arrest campaign in the West Bank.
The Israeli authorities are also expected to release 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the three Israeli captives.
The list of those freed from Israeli prisons includes 32 prisoners sentenced to life, 48 with high sentences, and 30 children.
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