Hamas on Thursday discharged Israeli soldier Agam Berger as the third round of hostage-prisoner exchanges occurred under a truce with an objective to end the Gaza confrontation.
Along with Berger, two other Israeli hostages, Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses, and five Thai captives were ready to be released. In exchange, Israel is anticipated to free 110 Palestinian prisoners.
Before her release, Hamas militants displayed Berger, arrayed in military tiredness, on a stage in Jabalia, northern Gaza, before passing her over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Israeli military later validated that she had returned to Israel and would undertake “an initial medical assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office earlier named the three Israelis to be released. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club stated that 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, would be freed by Israel in exchange for the three Israelis.
Before the transfer, video footage released by the Islamic Jihad militant group displayed Moses and Yehud embracing and smiling. On Wednesday, the Moses family said, “We met with great excitement the wonderful news of our beloved Gadi’s return.”
The truce, which started on January 19, is for the free Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s October attack in return for 1,900 Palestinians captured by Israeli forces. Hamas has freed seven hostages, while Israel has released 290 Palestinian prisoners.
A fourth exchange is planned for the weekend, but tensions exist. Hamas on Wednesday alleged Israel of deferred aid deliveries, which Israeli authorities refuted as “fake news.” Netanyahu’s office said that the next exchange on Saturday would include the discharge of three Israeli men.
