Gaza Resistance releases three Israeli captives in handover to ICRC
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Israeli authorities are now supposed to release 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for the three Israeli captives released from Gaza.
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A crowd greets Islamic Jihad and Hamas fighters as they arrive for the handover of Israeli and Thai captives to the Red Cross in the south Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, Thursday, January 30, 2025. (AP)
The Palestinian Resistance released three Israeli captives in the third round of the first phase of the Al-Aqsa Flood prisoner exchange deal, in addition to five Thai nationals.
Agam Berger, Arbel Yehud, and Gadi Mozes were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Video shows the handover of Israeli captive Arbel Yehud to the ICRC. pic.twitter.com/td4PmuhvXs
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 30, 2025
Thai nationals Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat, and Rumnao Surasak were also released as part of the exchange process.
The Israeli occupation military later confirmed that the released Israeli captives were received by the Israeli army and the Shin Bet in the designated area in the Gaza Strip.
Crowds filled the two handover locations, north and south of the Gaza Strip, including just outside martyred leader Yahya Sinwar's destroyed residence in Khan Younis, where the Resistance flags were flown.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza confirmed that the Palestinians raised pictures of Resistance leaders from Lebanon to Yemen, including martyred Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the leader of the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
In detail, while Agam Berger was handed over to the ICRC from among the rubble of destroyed houses in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, the handover process of Arbel Yehud and Gadi Mozes took place in front of the house of martyr Sinwar in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip,
A video documents the exit of Israeli captive Agam Berger from a destroyed house in #Jabalia to be handed over to the ICRC. pic.twitter.com/fksZXltpiS
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 30, 2025
The al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades and the al-Mujahideen Brigades said their groups participated alongside the al-Qassam Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades in the handover process from in front of martyr Sinwar's house, according to the brigades' spokespeople Abu Ataya and Abu Bilal respectively.
Earlier, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that preparations were underway for the handing over of Israeli captives in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Our correspondent noted that the handover process took place from different locations.
He reported, citing Resistance sources, that the seven captives arrived at the handover location in Khan Younis following a maneuver carried out by the Resistance.
The military wings of the Palestinian Resistance factions held a military parade in the city before the handover amid the crowds.
Earlier, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that preparations were underway for the handing over of Israeli captives in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Our correspondent noted that the handover process took place from different locations.
'Israel' to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, detainees
Israeli occupation authorities are set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees today, Thursday, in exchange for the release of three Israeli captives in Gaza, as part of the prisoner exchanges stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS).
The PPS detailed in its statement that 32 are serving life sentences, 48 have received varying prison terms, and 30 are minors.
The statement noted that the freed prisoners and detainees are expected to arrive in Ramallah, while 20 of them will be deported to outside Palestinian territory, similar to previous releases.
Since the start of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas on January 19, seven Israeli women have been released in exchange for 290 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli prisons.
On January 20, during the first round of exchanges—carried out on the first day of the agreement’s implementation—the Palestinian Resistance handed over three Israeli female captives in exchange for the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including women and children, from Israeli prisons.
Similarly, on January 25, the occupation released 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in the second round of the exchange process, as announced by the Israeli Prison Service.
Palestinian Resistance to release 11 Israeli captives this week
On Wednesday, "Israel" announced that 11 captives held in Gaza would be released this week—eight on Thursday and three on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office stated that it had received a list from Hamas with the names of eight captives—three Israelis and five Thai nationals—who were set to be released on Thursday, in addition to three Israeli male captives who were expected to be released on Saturday.
Earlier, Hamas accused "Israel" of delaying the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, warning that this could impact the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner exchange process, while the occupation denied the accusations.
Hamas and "Israel" had reached a ceasefire agreement, with its first phase—implemented on January 19—outlining a prisoner exchange between the two sides and an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to the besieged enclave.
The first phase of the ceasefire is set to last six weeks, during which 33 captives in Gaza will be released in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli occupation prisons.
Read more: Zakaria al-Zubaidi to be liberated in third batch of prisoner exchange
