Sigh of relief: 3 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages formerly held by Hamas, back in Israel after harrowing release

Eight hostages – three Israelis and five Thais – were released from captivity in the Gaza Strip and successfully transferred to Israeli territory on Thursday.

Shortly after 9 a.m. local time, Hamas began the release ceremony of Agam Berger, a 20-year-old female IDF soldier kidnapped with her comrades from their outpost in Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023.

She was released in Jabaliya, a town in northern Gaza, which Hamas’ posters adorning the stage claimed was the “Givati Brigade’s grave.” The terror group again choreographed and filmed a release ceremony, although slightly less elaborate than the release of Berger’s four comrades last weekend.

Despite some hostile crowds surrounding the stage, the first release went relatively smoothly and Berger was handed over to the Red Cross, which took her to an IDF post in Gaza, from where she was taken to a reception point near the border.

She was reunited first with her parents, and after a helicopter ride to the hospital, with her four friends with whom she had spent most of the captivity in Gaza.

The reunion we’ve been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/84oI7et5pn
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 30, 2025

The release of Israeli civilians Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses, as well as the Thai nationals Thaenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Saethao Bannawat, and Rumnao Surasak was held in Khan Younis, in front of the destroyed house of killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The ceremony was planned to be less elaborate, possibly because “only” civilians were being released, and possibly because it was organized jointly by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which had held some of the hostages.

After 482 days, they are home. 💛 pic.twitter.com/vt7nS24HFR
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 30, 2025

The terror groups apparently didn’t prepare for the massive, hostile crowds of onlookers and quickly lost control over them. When Moses and Yehud were taken out of a van to be paraded toward Red Cross vehicles, hundreds surged forward, shoving and yelling at the visibly frightened Israelis.

It took around a dozen armed and masked terrorists almost half an hour to shove their way through the crowd and to hand over the two Israelis, and later, the five Thai nationals to the Red Cross.

482 days ago, these Thai nationals were kidnapped by Hamas into Gaza. Today they are finally free. pic.twitter.com/FkXVATDRW6
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 30, 2025

The Israeli government in response delayed the release of the Palestinian prisoners for several hours, until it received assurances from the mediators that the next releases will not be held among hostile Gazan mobs.

Once they reached the IDF post in Gaza, Yehud and Moses were reunited with their families, while the Thai nationals were met by representatives of the Thai government, before they were all flown to a hospital for medical examinations.

“While the scenes of abuse and terror towards the hostages as they were transferred to the Red Cross were horrifying, we are moved to tears by the return from captivity of Agam Berger, Arbel Yehoud, and Gadi Mozes, along with the five Thai citizens released today,” President Isaac Herzog declared.

CHILLING: 80-year-old Gadi Mozes entrapped by hundreds of brutal PIJ and Hamas terrorists during his transfer to the Red Cross.

From the youngest hostages to the oldest, there is no limit to these terrorists' cruelty. pic.twitter.com/EuXxizbhky
— Government Press Office 🇮🇱 (@GPOIsrael) January 30, 2025

“From an elderly 80-year-old man, to a young 20-year-old girl, they have endured hell with unparalleled bravery, and they are finally reunited with their wonderful families and loved ones,” Herzog said.

“We will not rest and we will not be silent until every one of our sisters and brothers have been returned from captivity in Gaza. Till the last one returns!”

The Israeli government vowed it would “accompany them and their families,” stating is remained “committed to returning all of the hostages and the missing.”

🎗️Emotional: Agam Berger finally reunites with her loved ones at the Beilinson Medical Center, after 482 days.

📸 Chaim Tsach, GPO pic.twitter.com/8BiVNFPS3S
— Government Press Office 🇮🇱 (@GPOIsrael) January 30, 2025

The government also added the Bible verse, “And I will bring my people Israel back from exile (Amos 9:14),” to its statements praising the return of the hostages.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar later called his Thai colleague Maris Sangiampongsa to congratulate him on the release of the five hostages.

Sa’ar “updated the Thai Foreign Minister on the details of the release of the five Thai citizens, their medical condition in an initial medical examination, which was defined as good, and that they will shortly be transferred by helicopter to a hospital,” the minister’s office stated.

This is how 29-year-old hostage Arbel Yehoud, 80-year-old Gadi Mozes and the 5 Thai nationals
were treated on their release from Gaza, after 481 days in hell. pic.twitter.com/D3Ini35EfO
— David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) January 30, 2025

After the reunion, the Yehud family declared their “life’s mission” to be complete. “We are overwhelmed and very excited. We face another life's journey of family rehabilitation. A family of grief, in pain and missing our Dolev.”

Arbel Yehud's brother Dolev was murdered during the Oct. 7 invasion. Her partner Ariel, and his brother David, are still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.

The Arbel family said their mission would continue, and vowed not to “rest until all the hostages are released. We urge everyone not to allow the door that has been opened to close. We must return everyone home immediately, so that we can rebuild as a society.”