Three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals held by Hamas in Gaza are set to be released on Thursday, according to Israeli officials. The hostages were identified on Wednesday as 20-year-old IDF soldier Agam Berger, 29-year-old civilian Arbel Yehoud, and 80-year-old Gadi Moshe Mozes. The release follows mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar.

The release of the five Thai hostages was also confirmed, although their names were not disclosed. Eight Thai nationals remain in captivity, along with one Nepalese and one Tanzanian hostage. However, two of the Thai captives and the Tanzanian have been declared dead by Israeli authorities.

The latest round of releases follows a dispute over the truce deal’s implementation, which was resolved on Monday. In addition to the three Israelis and five Thai nationals set for release on Thursday, three additional hostages are expected to be freed on Saturday.

So far, seven hostages—three civilians and four IDF soldiers—have been released under the ceasefire and hostage exchange deal that commenced on January 19. Under the agreement, Israel will free 110 Palestinian security prisoners—30 for each civilian and 50 for Berger, including 30 serving life sentences. The 30 inmates released in exchange for Mozes include three also serving life terms.

Arbel Yehoud, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was kidnapped alongside her partner Ariel Cunio on October 7. Cunio remains in captivity. Yehoud, who worked at the Center for Technology, Science, and Space at the Eshkol Regional Council, is described by her family as a devoted aunt known for spending time with her nephews. She was originally slated for release last weekend, but Hamas instead released four IDF surveillance soldiers in her place. Her detention became a key point of contention in negotiations until the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) agreed to classify her as a civilian rather than a soldier.

Agam Berger, from Holon, was taken from the Nahal Oz IDF base, where she served as a surveillance soldier. A talented violinist, Berger had been stationed at the base for only two days before the October 7 attack. She was last seen in a Hamas video that surfaced on the day of her abduction, showing her in pajamas being forced into a car. Four other female soldiers from her unit were released last week, and they described leaving Berger behind as “very hard.”

Gadi Moshe Mozes, an agronomist and a founding member of Nir Oz’s vineyard, was kidnapped from the kibbutz on October 7. His partner, Efrat Katz, was killed during the attack. Katz’s daughter and granddaughters were kidnapped as well but were released in November. Mozes, known for his belief in coexistence, is being held by the PIJ. He was previously featured in a Hamas propaganda video alongside fellow hostage Elad Katzir, who was later confirmed dead in captivity.

At least 31 Thai nationals were among the 251 people abducted by Hamas on October 7. Of those, eight remain in Gaza, with two confirmed dead. It remains unclear which five will be released on Thursday. During the November 2023 ceasefire, 23 Thai hostages were freed. Thai nationals were among the largest groups of foreign workers in Israel at the time of the attack, with at least 32 confirmed killed.

Eighty-seven hostages abducted on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead. The bodies of 40 others have been recovered since the war began. The ongoing hostage deal mandates the phased release of 33 so-called “humanitarian hostages” over 42 days, with fighting temporarily halted in Gaza. As part of the deal, Israel is set to release approximately 1,904 Palestinian security prisoners, including over 100 convicted of deadly terror attacks.

The deal’s subsequent phases remain subject to further negotiations, with the goal of securing the release of all remaining hostages, freeing additional Palestinian prisoners, and achieving what has been described as “sustainable calm” in Gaza.

Ahead of Thursday’s expected release, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) addressed concerns about Hamas’s handling of previous hostage handovers. Freed hostages have reported being surrounded by hostile crowds, adding to their trauma. The ICRC clarified that while it facilitates the releases, it does not control how Hamas conducts the process.

“Our mission is to ensure that we carry out what the sides have requested from us,” said ICRC spokesperson Gilad Grossman. “So far, we have successfully helped with the return of seven hostages and are ready to assist in further release operations.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has not commented on the matter.

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