Hamas is scheduled to release three Israeli hostages on Thursday, comprising two women and an 80-year-old man, along with five Thai nationals who were taken during the attack on October 7, 2023.
The Hostages Families Forum has reported that it has received confirmation regarding the release of these eight individuals. This forum is a volunteer organization established by the families of the abductees following the incident.
Among those set to be released is Arbel Yehoud, 29, who Israeli officials had anticipated would be freed last weekend as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of a total of 33 hostages.
The other two Israeli hostages expected to be released are Agam Berger, 20, and Gadi Moses, 80.
Berger was serving as an observer at the Nahal Oz base, having arrived just two days before the attack on October 7. She was taken captive along with several other observers, all of whom have since been released.
Moses resided in kibbutz Nir Oz, where he played a pivotal role as one of the founding members of the kibbutz’s vineyard and conducted lectures on agricultural practices. The hostage organization reported that his partner was killed during the attack on October 7.
According to the ceasefire agreement, 30 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released in exchange for civilian hostages, while 50 have been released for captive soldiers.
The truce between Israel and Hamas faced significant challenges on Saturday when Israel restricted Palestinian civilians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza. Israeli officials asserted that Hamas had breached the ceasefire agreement by not releasing Yehoud, a civilian, prior to the release of captive soldiers.
Hamas has similarly accused Israel of violating the agreement, raising fears that the ceasefire, which has temporarily halted 15 months of intense conflict in Gaza, may be at risk.
However, on Monday, Qatar, a prominent mediator in the ceasefire discussions, announced that Yehoud would be released along with two other hostages before Friday, alleviating tensions surrounding the agreement.
Yehoud was abducted from her residence in kibbutz Nir Oz, a community founded by her grandparents, alongside her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, 27. The couple had recently returned to Israel after a trip to South America.
Initially, it was believed that Yehoud’s brother, Dolev Yehoud, 25, had also been taken hostage in Gaza. However, in September, Israel confirmed that he had been killed by Hamas on the day of the attacks, and his body had not crossed into Israeli territory.
Cunio and his brother David, aged 34, continue to be held captive in Gaza, with no expectation of their release during the initial phase of the agreement.
The particulars of the second phase of the agreement have not yet been finalized; however, a Middle Eastern official informed NBC News on Monday that discussions for the next round are anticipated to commence in Qatar next week.
On Saturday, three additional captives are expected to be freed in return for a significant number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Many individuals in Israel are optimistic that Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage still in Hamas’ custody, will be among those released.
