After over a year in captivity, Israeli soldier Agam Berger was released on Thursday by Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.
Berger was one of five female Israeli soldiers abducted during the October 7 Hamas attacks. The other four soldiers were released last week. Alongside Berger, Thursday’s release included two Israeli civilians and five Thai workers.
In exchange, Israel is set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 children.
The process faced delays due to chaotic scenes in Gaza during the release of earlier hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the images of masked gunmen leading captives through crowds as “shocking.”
Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, a total of 15 hostages have been freed. However, 82 individuals remain in Hamas custody in Gaza. The agreement stipulates that 33 hostages will be released during the first six weeks of the truce.
This latest development offers a glimmer of hope for families still awaiting the return of their loved ones, as negotiations continue to secure the release of those still held.