Eight hostages abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel were released on Thursday after 482 days in captivity. The freed hostages include three Israelis—IDF soldier Agam Berger, 20, and civilians Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Mozes, 80—along with five Thai nationals.
The handover in Khan Younis was chaotic, with Yehoud, Mozes, and the Thai hostages forced to walk through surging crowds and masked gunmen before reaching Red Cross vehicles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the scene as “shocking” and delayed a scheduled release of Palestinian prisoners in protest.
Berger, held by Hamas, was released separately in northern Gaza’s Jabalia in a staged event where she was forced to wear a military-style uniform and receive a Hamas “gift bag.” She was later reunited with her family at an IDF facility.
The freed Thai hostages were among foreign workers kidnapped during the attack. Mozes is the first Israeli male hostage released under the current deal, which provides for 33 hostages to be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israel believes at least eight hostages in this group are deceased.
