Deir Al-Balah (TDI): Hamas began the process of freeing three more Israeli hostages and five Thai captives on Thursday, the third such release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month.
Israel was anticipated to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners.
The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest war in the Gaza strip.
It has held despite a dispute earlier this week over the sequence in which the hostages were freed.
Hamas handed female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, 20, to the Red Cross at a ceremony in the heavily destroyed urban refugee camp of Jabaliya in northern Gaza, according to AP.
The Israeli government later confirmed that Berger was with its troops.
Another ceremony was arranged in the southern city of Khan Younis, in front of the destroyed home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Also Read: Hamas to Free 4 Female Israeli Soldiers
Both were attended by hundreds of people, including masked fighters and onlookers.
In Israel, people cheered, clapped and whistled at a square in Tel Aviv where hostages’ supporters watched Berger’s handover on big screens next to a large clock that’s counted the days the hostages have been in captivity.
Berger was among 5 young, female soldiers abducted in the October 7 attack.
The other 4 were released on Saturday. The other 2 Israelis set to be released Thursday are Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man.
There was no official confirmation of the identities of the Thai citizens who will be released.
Also Read: Hamas-Israel Reach Truce Deal to End Gaza War: Report
A number of foreign workers were taken hostage along with dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers during Hamas’ attack.
23 Thais were among more than one hundred hostages released during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023.
Israel says 8 Thais remain in captivity, two of whom are believed to be dead.