JERUSALEM — A significant development emerged in the ongoing situation involving hostages as Hamas announced it would release three Israelis, including two women and an elderly man, along with five Thai nationals. This decision was made public by both Israel and Hamas, coinciding with the evolving ceasefire agreement set to take effect on Thursday.
The Israeli individuals include two women, Arbel Yehoud, aged 29, and Agam Berger, aged 20, along with Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man. The specific identities of the Thai hostages remain undisclosed at this time.
During the initial wave of conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, numerous foreign workers were taken captive alongside a significant number of Israeli citizens and military personnel. Previously, in a ceasefire agreement in November 2023, twenty-three Thai hostages were released, leaving eight still in captivity according to Israeli officials.
The upcoming release is anticipated to sustain the fragile ceasefire that commenced earlier this month, temporarily halting the intense 15-month conflict in Gaza. The hostage release is part of a series of negotiations through which Hamas is gradually freeing hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel. These prisoners include a mix of individuals accused of minor crimes in recent months and high-profile militants serving lengthy sentences for severe attacks against Israelis. Notably, some of these prisoners have been detained without formal charges or trials.
In a coordinated effort, hostages and prisoners are set to be released during two occasions this week. The arrangement has been under negotiation for several months, primarily facilitated by the Biden administration. However, a breakthrough occurred when incoming President Donald Trump issued a strong warning that there would be significant repercussions if the hostages were not returned.
Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Israel and held discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington next week, marking the first international leader to meet with Trump in his second term in office.
The hostage release set for Thursday was not originally planned but emerged from a deadlock between Israel and Hamas regarding the identities of hostages freed over the weekend. Israel prioritized including Yehoud in that group, and her absence in that release delayed the return of a substantial number of Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza, which had been heavily affected by the conflict.
International mediators played a critical role in formulating the additional release plan now slated for Thursday, thereby enabling a smoother flow of Palestinians returning northward. Another round of hostage releases is also expected on Saturday, which Netanyahu’s office indicated would consist of male detainees. Alongside the hostages, several Palestinian prisoners are also scheduled for release on both Thursday and Saturday.
Included in Thursday’s expected releases is Zakaria Zubeidi, a notable former militant leader famous for his dramatic escape from prison in 2021, an event that was met with widespread admiration among Palestinians and profound concern within the Israeli security community.
In a related discourse, President Trump suggested over the weekend that neighboring countries, specifically Jordan and Egypt, consider accepting displaced Palestinians, referring to Gaza’s extensive destruction as akin to a “demolition site.” This controversial proposal was met with firm rejection from both Egypt and Jordan, who have traditionally maintained a peace process with Israel but still support the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi publicly denounced Trump’s notion, labeling it an injustice and expressing that the displacement of Palestinians could not be tolerated. He emphasized that the proper resolution lies in the creation of a Palestinian state.
Trump has expressed intentions to persuade both Jordan and Egypt—key partners in U.S. foreign policy and significant recipients of U.S. aid—to consider his relocation proposal, suggesting it could be either a temporary or long-term solution. However, it remains uncertain whether he can coerce these nations into compliance, especially given the substantial financial assistance they receive from the United States each year.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to local health authorities, who do not differentiate between civilians and armed combatants in their reports. This devastation has displaced around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, often forcing them to relocate multiple times.
In the violence initiated by Hamas, approximately 250 individuals were taken hostage, while around 1,200 lives were lost. The historical context of displacement resonates deeply within Palestinian culture, with the desire to remain on ancestral land being a fundamental aspect of their identity. Such fears of permanent displacement have been intensified by far-right elements within the Israeli government advocating for the reconstruction of settlements in Gaza, a location from which Israel pulled out military forces and settlers in 2005. Netanyahu has dismissed these proposals as impractical.
Despite having peace treaties with Israel, Egypt and Jordan advocate for the establishment of a Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. They fear that the permanent resettlement of Gaza’s dislocated population could jeopardize their longstanding aspirations of statehood for the Palestinians.
