[The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed the identities of three Israeli hostages due to be released in Gaza on Thursday. The three hostages are: Arbel Yehoud, 29 years old; Agam Berger, 19; and Gadi Moses, 80. Berger was a soldier abducted from a military base besides the Nahal Oz kibbutz.
Additionally, 110 Palestinian prisoners will be released on Thursday. Of those, 32 were sentenced to life imprisonment, and another 30 are children. A total of 33 Israeli hostages taken captive by Hamas and other armed groups in the October 7 attacks were set to be freed in phase one of the ceasefire and hostages release deal between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier, eight Israeli hostages set to be released had been confirmed deceased by Israeli authorities. However, the three new hostages named by the PMO are believed to be alive.
Yehoud was kidnapped from her home in the Nir Oz kibbutz, alongside her partner Ariel Cunio. Moses, a grandfather, was also taken from Nir Oz. The Nir Oz kibbutz was one of the hardest-hit areas during the attacks, with many of its inhabitants killed or taken captive.
Among those to be released are 32 Palestinian prisoners who were given life sentences. The remaining four prisoners are deceased.
A female former hostage who was released in an earlier round of releases gave an emotional testimony about her captivity and the bravery of her fellow captive, who talked one of her captors out of killing her. Another former hostage testified about her capture and the use of torture techniques by her captors.
Israeli authorities have freed two rounds of hostages so far, with around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners expected to be released in total.
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