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On Thursday, Hamas-led militants released eight hostages, with Israel preparing to free 110 Palestinian prisoners. However, the handover was marred by chaos as a crowd of Palestinians surrounded and jeered at the hostages while they were transferred to the Red Cross. Earlier in the day, Hamas released Israeli soldier Agam Berger, 20, after publicly parading her in front of a crowd in northern Gaza.

Ceasefire Aims to End Deadly Conflict


The ongoing ceasefire agreement seeks to halt one of the deadliest conflicts in the Middle East, which began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on Israel. Berger was one of five young female soldiers abducted during the attack. The remaining four were released on Saturday.

Public Reactions to Berger’s Release


In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered in a public square, clapping and cheering as they watched Berger’s release on large screens. Many supporters had assembled near a clock counting the days the hostages had been held in captivity.

On Wednesday, Israeli officials confirmed that Hamas would release three additional Israeli hostages, including two women and an 80-year-old man, along with five Thai nationals. During the October 7 attack, Hamas captured multiple foreign workers, including 23 Thai citizens, many of whom were released during a previous weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Israel reports that eight Thais remain in captivity, with two feared dead.

High-Profile Palestinian Prisoners Among Those Released


Among the 110 Palestinian prisoners set to be released, 30 are serving life sentences for deadly attacks against Israelis. One notable figure among them is Zakaria Zubeidi, a former militant leader and theater director who participated in a dramatic 2021 jailbreak before being rearrested.

International Mediation and Ceasefire Terms


The ceasefire was mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar after a year of intense negotiations. The agreement also secured the release of a hostage named Yehoud on Thursday.

Hamas to Release 33 Israeli Hostages in First Phase
 

As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas has agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, elderly individuals, and those who are sick or wounded, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel has confirmed that eight of the hostages in this group are deceased.