The three Israeli hostages due to be released today are Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Mozes, the Jerusalem Post reported. Also, Hamas will free five Thai hostages that are in their custody.
By Rachel Avraham
The three Israeli hostages due to be released today are Arbel Yehud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Mozes, the Jerusalem Post reported. Also, Hamas will free five Thai hostages that are in their custody. According to the report, 110 terrorists will be released from jail in exchange for their freedom. Among the terrorists to be freed is Zakaria Zubeidi, the former commander of Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade in the Jenin area, who was once on Israel’s most wanted list and confessed to a terrorist attack that killed six people in 2002, Arutz Sheva reported.
Yehud (29) and Moses (80) were abducted from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, while Berger (20) is one of five female IDF soldiers taken from the Nahal Oz army base to the Gaza Strip, I24 News reported. Berger was held with four other female soldiers, Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, and Daniella Gilboa. All four were released in last weekend’s deal.
Arbel Yehud, a civilian, was supposed to be released last week, but Hamas violated the ceasefire agreement by not releasing her, Arutz Sheva reported. Gadi Mozes, who is 80-years-old, will be the first male to be released during the current ceasefire. Hamas is holding ten elderly hostages in Gaza in addition to Gadi Mozes. Two-year-old Kfir Bibas, five-year-old Ariel Bibas, and their parents Shiri and Yarden are also being held hostage in Gaza, yet have not yet been released.
Earlier in the week, Arutz Sheva reported that the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization released a video and a sign of life from Arbel Yehud. At the beginning of the video, she noted the date as Saturday. She addressed her family and said: “I am fine, I miss you endlessly and hope to return to you soon.”
Although Arbel is set to be released, her boyfriend of five years Ariel Cunio together with his brother David Cunio is slated to remain in Hamas captivity as they were not included in the first phase as young males, Israel Hayom reported. “They’ve known each other since they were born,” Arbel’s brother Neta previously shared. The Instagram page dedicated to Arbel’s release captures their love story. One poignant caption reads: “Tu B’Av evening [“Jewish Valentine’s Day”] and my thoughts are with this beautiful couple who were kidnapped together to Gaza. So many shared dreams and plans that were halted.”
The couple was abducted together from their safe room on October 7, while terrorists murdered their pet dog. Arbel’s brother Neta Yehud (32) later spoke to Israel Hayom about the family’s anguish: “We’re going through hell, Oct. 7 hasn’t ended for us, we have no day or night, no rest day or weekday, time stands still.” Aside from Arbel and Ariel being held hostage together in Gaza, Arbel’s eldest brother Dolev (35) was murdered on October 7, leaving behind a wife and four children, with the fourth one being delivered shortly after the October 7 massacre.
Israel Hayom reported that Agam Berger sent messages to her parents through Agam Goldstein, a released hostage who had stayed with her. According to the report, Agam Goldstein called Agam Berger’s father precisely on his birthday to inform him that his daughter was aware of the occasion. She told the parents that their daughter maintains Shabbat observance even in captivity. She described how Hamas terrorists ordered Agam to cook food, but she steadfastly refused to desecrate Shabbat.
In December 2023, a video was released of two hostages, one of whom was Gadi Mozes, who pleaded with the government to negotiate for his release, the Jerusalem Post reported. As an internationally renowned agronomist, Gadi Mozes has expertise in wastewater management and field crops. He also worked as a peace activist, helping to advocate for peace with the Palestinians.
