Asia (Page 599)

According to Israel, Hamas is reportedly awaiting the release of three Jewish victims and five Thai nationals from Gaza on Thursday.

Two people, civil Arbel Yehud, 29, and military spectator Agam Berger, 20, have been named along with an 80-year-old person, Gadi Moses, as the Israelis set for release.

If the most recent ceasefire agreement’s next prisoner release is completed, it will be released. In change for the Jewish victims, 110 Zionists are being freed from Israeli prison.

The Thai hostages’ names have not yet been made public. Their release would be a unilateral move by Hamas, and would not constitute part of the deal.

According to reports, they were kidnapped from their jobs in Israel.

Six of Thailand’s people are still being held captive in Gaza, according to the Thai government.

Their brands are Watchara Sriuan, Bannawat Seatho, Sathian Suwannakham, Nattapong Pinta, Pongsak Tanna and Surasak Lamnau.

Thailand reported that Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak, two different Thai victims, are reportedly dead.

At least 30 women and children, as well as captives serving life sentences, are thought to be among the 110 Arab prisoners slated for release by Israel, but they are also thought to number at least 30.

Their transfer is a second trade since the ceasefire’s implementation on January 19, 2017. In change for more than 290 Arab prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails, seven people have already been freed.

According to the Israeli government, a third prisoner launch involving three men is scheduled for Saturday.

In response to a previously unheard cross-border assault on October 7, 2023, in which about 1, 200 people were killed and 251 were taken prisoner, the Israeli army launched a campaign to take down Hamas.

More than 47, 310 citizens in Gaza have been killed since then in Israel’s offensive, the majority of them citizens, the state’s Hamas-run health department says.

Arbel Yehud, 29, was taken from her apartment in Nir Oz in southern Israel during the 7 October problems.

She was abducted along with her partner, Ariel Cunio. He and his brother, David Cunio, remain in captivity according to The Victims and Disappearing People Forum.

Arbel’s nephew, Dolev Yehud, was originally believed to have been taken prisoner, but was later declared deceased by Israeli officials after his bones were identified.

Arbel worked at the Center for Technology, Science and Space at the Eshkol Regional Council.

Gadi Moses, aged 80, was even abducted from Nir Oz where he worked as an agricultural professional.

His companion, Efrat Katz, was killed in the attack.

His home informed the Times of Israel in September that they had not heard anything about him since he first appeared in a Hamas advertising video in December 2023.

The Victims and Disappearing People Forum said he was a founding member of his kibbutz’s vineyard, and helped look after its community vegetable garden.

Agam Berger, 20, was taken from the Nahal Oz military center near Gaza’s borders. In Hamas ‘ movies, she was reportedly taken away.

She was arriving just two weeks before the 7 October assault, according to the Captives and Missing People Forum, and was working as an watcher at the base.

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

The other four Israeli troops were released by Hamas on 25 January, in a switch that saw Israel completely 200 Arab prisoners.

In the next change since the ceasefire came into effect, they were handed to the Red Cross in Gaza City.

On January 19th, the initial release resulted in the release of 90 Arab hostages and 90 hostages.

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

Alexandra, Karina’s girl, reported to the BBC that she heard shooting as her sister called her during the invasion, and that she eventually discovered a film that showed her being taken aside in a car.

Alexandra then saw the video circulating on Telegram of Karina’s theft. ” We identified her, she had heart on her face, she was screaming.

” I do not want people to experience this experience,” she told the BBC”. Day has stopped.”

After her release, her family described her as a” symbol of courage, spirit, and determination, and we are glad of her beyond thoughts”.

” After 477 stormy days of pain, fret, and endless anxiety – we eventually got to acknowledge our beloved Karina, hear her voice, and observe her smile that once again fills us with light,” the statement read.

Naama Levy, 20, was filmed being bundled into a van, her arms tied behind her again. Hamas released the film, which was broadly shared on social media. According to her mother, the girl had only begun her military services.

But she had formerly been part of an Israeli-Palestinian harmony program, and her household called her” a peace person”.

In a picture of her abduction from the Nahal Oz military base, she was heard to show her prisoners in English:” I have buddies in Palestine.”

In May 2024 her brother, Amit, said her family released the footage to” encourage all sides to get back to the table” to solve” an unbearable humanitarian issue”.

We think she approaches the situation as a true superhero, like a hero fighting for her life.

When Daniella Gilboa, 20, and other female soldiers at Nahal Oz were kidnapped, they both suffered leg injuries.

She has been seen in several videos, and in one last year asked Israel’s government why she had been” abandoned “and” discarded “while war raged around her.

Ms Gilboa’s mother, Orly, told the Jerusalem Post the video showed her daughter was” strong and determined”. However, she said she was concerned about her” poor mental state”.

After her release, her family said she had” survived 477 days in the hell of Gaza and has finally returned to our family’s embrace”.

” How we’ve prayed for this moment! ” the statement said.

The family went on to thank Israelis for their” prayers and support during this time”, adding” we couldn’t have made it through without you”.

When Hamas attacked the Nahal Oz base on October 7, 2023, Liri Albag, age 18, had just begun military training as a lookout for the Army.

Her cousin, a military corporal, claimed that she had told her that she was “proud” of her success in her observation course before leaving for the base.

She told the Jerusalem Post,” She was inspired and so happy that she was chosen for Nahal Oz.” She began her role on Thursday, and a day and a half later, on Saturday morning, she was kidnapped.”

Her family claims that she has been able to communicate with them through the hostages who have been free.

Hamas released footage of Albag in January 2024, in which she was reportedly alleged to claim that her “every life had been put on pause.”

The world is starting to forget who we are. Nobody is concerned about us. We’re living in a nightmare.”

Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari were the first hostages to be freed on January 19- the first in accordance with this most recent ceasefire agreement.

After being released by Hamas in Gaza, all three were reunited with their families and returned to Israel this month.

Romi Gonen, 24, was taken hostage as she attempted to flee the Nova music festival following the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.

More than 360 people were killed at the festival when Hamas fighters crossed over the border, 2km ( 1.3 miles ) to the west. Partygoers had limited access to the desert landscape, and gunmen blocked their exits.

When sirens sounded as the attack unfolded, Romi called her family. Her mother, Meirav, recalled hearing shots and shouting in Arabic in the final call with her daughter.

Romi attempted to flee, but Hamas militants attacked her as she did.

The Victims and Disappearing People Forum said Romi had gone to the festival “to do what she loved, to dance” – something she had studied for 12 years, starring in solo performances and becoming an “amazing choreographer”.

Romi’s father was seen jumping in the air before shedding his tears as he watched footage of his daughter’s release in a video clip shared by the Israeli military.

Doron, 31, was abducted from her apartment in Kibbutz Kfar Aza- near Gaza’s north-western border- when Hamas attacked.

The community, one of many Israeli villages along the border, was heavily targeted by armed militants during the 7 October attacks.

Israeli officials said Hamas burned homes and killed civilians, including whole families, as well as taking hostages.

According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Doron contacted her family and friends via WhatsApp to say that she was hiding under the bed as militants advanced.

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

For nearly four months, Doron’s family has not been informed of her whereabouts.

Her family stated in a statement released by the forum for the missing families,” Our beloved Dodo has finally returned to our arms after an agonizing 471 days.”

Emily, 28, was shot in the hand and taken into Gaza from her home during the attack, and also saw her dog shot and killed. Photos taken shortly after her release showed Emily with a bandaged hand and two missing fingers from that attack.

Her mother, Mandy Damari, was also in the kibbutz in her separate home on 7 October. Mrs. Damari hid in the safe room and was saved by a bullet striking the door handle, making it impossible for attackers to enter.

Emily sent her mother a text message with a single heart emoji as the assault progressed; that was the last time they had spoken.

Emotional images showed Emily reunited with her mother in Israel, hugging while on a video call with her brother.

” I want to thank everyone who has continued to fight for Emily throughout this horrible ordeal,” Mrs. Damari said.

Mrs. Damari met her husband on a vacation in Israel at the age of 20 and was born and raised in the UK.

Emily, the youngest of four children, has strong connections with the UK- she is a Tottenham Hotspur fan and would often visit to see relatives.

Before the ceasefire, Israel said 94 hostages remained unaccounted for, but it believed only 60 to still be alive.

In the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, 26 Israeli hostages are scheduled to be handed over. Israel has claimed that eight of them are dead, citing a list that Hamas provided that contained information on the hostages ‘ status.