3rd phase of prisoner swap begins in Gaza Strip, 3 Israeli captives handed over
The third round of the prisoner exchange has begun in the besieged Gaza Strip with the release of three Israeli captives while 110 Palestinians, including 30 children, are set to be released later on Thursday.
In a statement on Thursday, the occupying regime’s army said that Israeli soldier Agam Berger was released by the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement earlier in the day under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the movement.
“The returning captive has just been transferred to Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip,” it said.
The al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas handed over the Israeli soldier to the Red Cross in Jabalya Camp in northern Gaza.
The moment the Al-Qassam Brigades releases Israeli captive Agam Berger to the Red Cross in the Jabalia Camp of Northern Gaza pic.twitter.com/UBQB2GqNMx
— Palestine Highlights (@PalHighlight) January 30, 2025
Later in the day, the Israeli army issued another brief statement, saying that two other Israelis, namely settlers Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes, plus five Thai nationals were also released by the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance.
“The 7 returning hostages are currently being accompanied by” the Israeli military and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) “forces on their return to” Israel, “where they will undergo an initial medical assessment,” the statement read.
With the release of these eight captives, Hamas fulfilled its part of the third phase of the prisoner swap on Thursday. Now, the Israeli authorities are set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 children, later in the day, as scheduled.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club advocacy group, of the Palestinian prisoners to be released today, 32 had received life sentences, and 48 were serving prison terms of different duration.
In the last two exchanges, Hamas released seven Israeli captives in return for 290 prisoners, nearly all of whom were Palestinians, except for one Jordanian.
A fourth exchange scheduled for Saturday will involve the release of three Israeli men, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The Gaza ceasefire deal began on January 19 with the release of three Israeli captives and 90 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel has released a list of more than 700 Palestinian prisoners to be released under the deal. More than 230 prisoners are serving life sentences and will be permanently sent to exile upon their release.
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