Israeli soldier Berger freed by Hamas returns to home soil in third swap under Gaza ceasefire

CAIRO – 30 January 2025: Agam Berger, an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas in their 7 October 2023 attack, returned to Israeli territory on Thursday, the Israeli military announced.

Hamas handed Berger to the Red Cross in a ceremony among the rubble in Jabalia in northern Gaza.

“A short while ago, IDF (Israeli army) and ISA (Shabak) forces accompanied returning hostage Agam Berger as she crossed the border into Israeli territory,” the Israeli military stated in an announcement.

The release of Berger is part of the third swap between Hamas and Israel since a ceasefire took effect between the two sides on 19 January, halting over 15 months of war on the enclave.

As part of the third swap, Israel is set to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 minors, while Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad will free a total of eight captives in Gaza, comprising five Thai nationals and three Israelis.

Israeli captives to be released today also include 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud, an Israeli-German civilian, and 80-year-old man Gadi Moses.

The release of Arbel Yehud is part of a new understanding between Hamas and Israel, which includes the transfer of Yehud and two other detainees before Friday.

Following the recent agreements, Israeli authorities began permitting the return of displaced citizens in the Gaza Strip from the south to the northern areas on Monday morning.

In the first two exchanges since the recent ceasefire came into force, Hamas and Israel successfully swapped seven Israeli captives—three civilians and four female soldiers—in exchange for 290 Palestinian prisoners.

The released captives include 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 28-year-old Emily Damari, 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, as well as 20-year-olds Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy, along with 19-year-old Liri Albag.

The ceasefire has brought a pause to a war that has claimed the lives of over 47,000 Palestinians, injured more than 111,000, and displaced a significant portion of the population since October 2023.

The agreement was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States after more than a year of mediation efforts.