Who are the Israeli and Thai hostages just released by Hamas?

Three Israeli hostages and 5 Thai nationals held by Hamas in Gaza for the reason that 7 October 2023 have been launched.

Agam Berger, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier, was reunited together with her household at a navy base in southern Israel after being handed over by armed Palestinian fighters to the Crimson Cross in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on Thursday.

About two hours later there was one other handover within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis. Israeli civilians Arbel Yehud, 29, and Gadi Moses, 80, have been pictured being escorted by fighters right into a Crimson Cross car.

The Israeli navy subsequently introduced that that they had been transferred to its forces in Gaza together with 5 Thai hostages after which moved to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace named the Thai nationals as agricultural staff Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao.

Beneath a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, 110 Palestinians are additionally being launched from Israeli jails in trade for the Israeli hostages on Thursday.

The discharge of the Thai nationals was not a part of the settlement, which started on 19 January.

It ought to see a complete of 33 Israeli hostages freed in return for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza in Israeli jails in the course of the first part lasting six weeks.

To date, 10 of these Israeli hostages – 5 civilians, together with 4 girls, and 5 feminine troopers – have been freed.

About 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 taken again to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.

This triggered an enormous Israeli navy offensive in Gaza, which has killed greater than 47,000 Palestinians, the Hamas-run well being ministry says.

Arbel Yehud, 29, was taken from her residence in Nir Ouncesin southern Israel in the course of the 7 October assaults.

She was kidnapped alongside together with her companion, Ariel Cunio. He and his brother, David Cunio, stay in captivity in accordance with The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board.

Arbel’s brother, Dolev Yehud, was initially believed to have been taken hostage, however was later declared lifeless by Israeli authorities after his stays have been recognized.

Arbel labored on the Heart for Know-how, Science and House on the Eshkol Regional Council.

Following her launch, Arbel’s household mentioned in a press release that they have been “overwhelmed with emotion”.

“Forward of us lies one other journey of household rehabilitation. We’re a bereaved household, nonetheless aching and lacking our Dolev,” they added.

In addition they famous that their “mission shouldn’t be but full”, with Ariel and David nonetheless held captive. “We won’t relaxation till all hostages are launched,” they mentioned.

Gadi Moses, aged 80, was additionally kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Ounceswhere he labored as an agricultural skilled.

His companion, Efrat Katz, was killed within the assault.

In September, his household instructed the Occasions of Israel that that they had not heard any details about him since December 2023, when he appeared in a Hamas propaganda video.

The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board mentioned he was a founding member of his kibbutz’s winery, and helped take care of its neighborhood vegetable backyard.

After being reunited along with his youngsters Yair, Moran, and Oded on Thursday, Gadi was quoted as saying: “I’ll do as a lot as I can to revive Nir Oz.”

Soldier Agam Berger, 20, was kidnapped from the Nahal Ouncesmilitary base on the border with Gaza. She was seen being taken away in movies launched by Hamas.

In accordance with the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, she was serving as an observer on the base, having arrived simply two days earlier than the 7 October assault.

Pongsak, who’s from Buriram province in north-eastern Thailand, was 35 years previous and had been working in agriculture in Israel for greater than six years when Hamas-led gunmen attacked the kibbutz the place he labored, in accordance with his father.

Earlier than he was taken hostage, Pongsak posted a reside video on Fb wherein gunshots and explosions may very well be heard.

Three days later, Pongsak’s colleagues knowledgeable his father that he had been kidnapped with two others.

His older brother was additionally working in Israel 15 months in the past, however he was secure within the north of the nation.

Pongsak’s father, Wilas, wept after receiving a name to say he had been launched on Thursday.

“I by no means thought this present day would come, the whole lot has been too quiet for some time,” he instructed the BBC.

Sathian, from the north-eastern Thai province of Nong Bua Lamphu, was 34 when he was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Ounceson 7 October 2023.

His mom mentioned he been a monk for a number of years after going to main faculty, and that he had been working in Israel for 4 years earlier than the Hamas assault.

She was unsure whether or not Sathian had been killed or taken hostage till a few of his buddies who had been kidnapped from the identical kibbutz have been freed and returned to Thailand.

Following Sathian’s launch, his youthful sister Sirinna revealed that the household had by no means misplaced hope.

“We at all times believed that my brother was nonetheless alive. We by no means gave up. We at all times waited for him to come back residence,” she mentioned.

Watchara is a 33-year-old father of 1 from Udon Thani province in north-east Thailand.

Final February, Watchara’s dad and mom instructed BBC Information Thai that he and his youthful brother had been working in Israel’s agricultural sector for 3 years earlier than the 7 October assaults to assist repay the household’s money owed. As with Pongsak Thaenna, one of many brothers was based mostly within the south and the opposite within the north.

Watchara was working at Kibbutz Nir Ounceswhen Hamas-led gunmen stormed throughout the close by Gaza perimeter fence.

His household spent a month fearing that he had been killed earlier than they have been knowledgeable by a number of sources that his identify was on an inventory of hostages.

“The very first thing I need to do is to hug my son and inform him I miss him very a lot,” Watchara’s mom, Wiwwaew, mentioned on Thursday following his launch. “His daughter, Nudee, was additionally comfortable. She has been praying day-after-day for her daddy to return.”

Bannawat, from the northern Thai province of Nan, was 27 when he was kidnapped in the course of the 7 October assault.

His spouse, Wichayada, mentioned he had gone to Israel to work for 9 months and brought out loans value greater than 100,000 baht ($2,970; £2,380) to pay for the journey.

The youngest of their two youngsters was just one month previous when he was taken again to Gaza as a hostage.

Surasak Lamnao, 32, is from Udon Thani province in north-eastern Thailand.

As with Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak’s mom solely acquired affirmation that he was a hostage when a launched Thai hostage instructed her that he was being held in captivity.

Agam was taken captive alongside her fellow observers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy.

The opposite 4 Israeli troopers have been launched by Hamas on 25 January, in a swap that noticed Israel free 200 Palestinian prisoners.

They have been handed to the Crimson Cross in Gaza Metropolis within the second such trade for the reason that ceasefire got here into impact.

The primary launch noticed three girls hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners freed on 19 January.

Karina Ariev, 20, was serving on the Nahal Ouncesarmy base when she was kidnapped on 7 October, 2023.

Her sister Alexandra instructed the BBC she heard capturing as Karina known as her in the course of the assault, and later noticed a video displaying Karina being taken away in a car.

Alexandra then noticed the video circulating on Telegram of Karina’s kidnapping. “We recognized her, she had blood on her face, she was screaming.

“I might by no means want anybody to really feel this sense,” she instructed the BBC. “Time has stopped.”

After her launch, her household described her as a “image of braveness, coronary heart, and dedication, and we’re happy with her past phrases”.

“After 477 tumultuous days of ache, fear, and infinite anxiousness – we lastly received to embrace our beloved Karina, hear her voice, and see her smile that after once more fills us with gentle,” the assertion learn.

Naama Levy, 20, was filmed being bundled right into a jeep, her fingers tied behind her again. The footage was launched by Hamas and circulated broadly on social media. In accordance with her mom, {the teenager} had simply begun her navy service.

However she had beforehand been a part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative, and her household known as her “a peace seeker”.

In a video of her kidnapping from the Nahal Ouncesarmy base, she was heard to inform her captors in English: “I’ve buddies in Palestine.”

In Might 2024 her brother, Amit, mentioned her household launched the footage to “encourage all sides to get again to the desk” to resolve “an insufferable humanitarian situation”.

“We really feel like she’s dealing with the scenario just like the true superhero she is, like a hero combating for her life.”

Daniella Gilboa, 20, was injured within the leg when she was kidnapped together with different feminine troopers at Nahal Oz.

She has been seen in a number of movies, and in a single final 12 months requested Israel’s authorities why she had been “deserted” and “discarded” whereas battle raged round her.

Ms Gilboa’s mom, Orly, instructed the Jerusalem Submit the video confirmed her daughter was “sturdy and decided”. Nevertheless, she mentioned she was involved about her “poor psychological state”.

After her launch, her household mentioned she had “survived 477 days within the hell of Gaza and has lastly returned to our household’s embrace”.

“How we have prayed for this second!” the assertion mentioned.

The household went on to thank Israelis for his or her “prayers and help throughout this time”, including “we could not have made it via with out you”.

Liri Albag was 18 and had simply began navy coaching as an Military lookout when Hamas attacked the Nahal Ouncesbase on 7 October 2023.

Her cousin Aya Albag, a corporal within the military, mentioned she had instructed her she was “proud” of her passing her remark course earlier than she went to the bottom

“She was motivated and so comfortable that she was assigned to Nahal Oz,” she instructed the Jerusalem Submit. “She started her function on Thursday, and a day and a half later, on Saturday morning, she was kidnapped.”

Her household say that she has managed to move messages again to them via launched hostages.

In January 2024, footage of Albag was launched by Hamas and he or she may very well be heard saying her “total life had been placed on pause”.

“The world is beginning to overlook about us. Nobody cares about us. We’re dwelling in a nightmare.”

The hostages freed on 19 January – the primary underneath this newest ceasefire deal – have been Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari.

All three arrived again in Israel this month after being launched by Hamas in Gaza, and have been reunited with their households.

Romi Gonen, 24, was captured as she tried to flee the Nova music competition when it was focused by the militant group as a part of the 7 October 2023 assault.

Greater than 360 folks have been killed on the competition when Hamas fighters crossed over the border, 2km (1.3 miles) to the west. The desert panorama supplied partygoers restricted cowl and exit routes have been blocked by gunmen.

When sirens sounded because the assault unfolded, Romi known as her household. Her mom, Meirav, recalled listening to pictures and shouting in Arabic within the last name together with her daughter.

Romi was ambushed by Hamas militants as she tried to flee.

The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board mentioned Romi had gone to the competition “to do what she liked, to bounce” – one thing she had studied for 12 years, starring in solo performances and turning into an “wonderful choreographer”.

In a video clip shared by the Israeli navy, Romi’s father was seen leaping within the air earlier than breaking down in tears as he watched footage of his daughter’s launch.

Doron, 31, was kidnapped from her condo in Kibbutz Kfar Aza – close to Gaza’s north-western border – when Hamas attacked.

The neighborhood, one in every of many Israeli villages alongside the border, was closely focused by armed militants in the course of the 7 October assaults.

Israeli officers mentioned Hamas burned houses and killed civilians, together with complete households, in addition to taking hostages.

When the assault started, Doron contacted her household and buddies by way of WhatsApp to say she was hiding underneath the mattress as militants superior, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board mentioned.

In her final voice message, she was heard screaming “they’ve caught me” as shouting and gunfire sounded within the background.

Doron’s household acquired no details about her whereabouts for practically 4 months.

“After an insufferable 471 days, our beloved Dodo has lastly returned to our arms,” her household mentioned in a press release launched by the lacking households discussion board.

Emily, 28, was shot within the hand and brought into Gaza from her residence in the course of the assault, and likewise noticed her canine shot and killed. Pictures after her launch confirmed Emily with a bandaged hand and two lacking fingers from that assault.

Her mom, Mandy Damari, was additionally within the kibbutz in her separate residence on 7 October. Mrs Damari hid within the secure room and was saved by a bullet hitting the door deal with, making it inconceivable for attackers to get in.

Because the assault unfolded, Emily despatched her mom a textual content message containing a single coronary heart emoji – that was the final contact that they had.

Emotional photographs showed Emily reunited with her mother in Israel, hugging whereas on a video name together with her brother.

“I need to thank everybody who by no means stopped combating for Emily all through this horrendous ordeal, and who by no means stopped saying her identify,” Mrs Damari mentioned.

Mrs Damari was born and raised within the UK, and met her husband on a vacation in Israel aged 20.

Emily, the youngest of 4 youngsters, has sturdy connections with the UK – she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and would usually go to to see kin.

Earlier than the ceasefire, Israel mentioned 94 hostages remained unaccounted for, however it believed solely 60 to nonetheless be alive.

There are 26 Israeli hostages attributable to be handed over within the first part of the ceasefire deal. Israel has mentioned eight of them are lifeless, citing an inventory supplied by Hamas that gave data on the standing of the hostages.