Israeli hostage released as latest prisoner exchange with Hamas begins amid Gaza ceasefire

Tel Aviv — A female Israeli hostage, Agam Berger, 20, was released in Gaza early Thursday as the next hostages-for-prisoners swap agreed to by Israel and Hamas got underway. Two more Israelis, including an 80-year-old man, and five Thai hostages were expected to be released later in the day.

Berger was released amid the ruins of the Jabalia Refugee Camp in northern Gaza. She was the final hostage from an all-female unarmed Israeli military unit that had been working to surveil Gaza. 

Seven women from the unit were taken hostage during Hamas' Oct. 7 2023 attack on Israel, which saw militants kill about 1,200 people and take a total of 251 others hostage.