Day 482 – Hamas theatrics and utter bedlam as 8 hostages freed

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute
audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and
the Jewish world.


Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host
Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.


This morning, 8 hostages — 3 Israeli and 5 Thai — returned to
Israel from Gaza where they were taken by Hamas and Palestinian
Islamic Jihad on October 7, 2023.


Agam Berger, 20, the final surveillance officer among seven young
women taken hostage on October 7 was released from the northern
Gaza Strip in a staged ceremony this morning. Fabian debriefs us
on what we know about her health and describes the situation in
the northern part of the Strip as the IDF allows residents to
return there.


Just before 1 pm, two other Israeli civilians were released from
within a seething mob in Khan Younis: 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud,
who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and her fellow kibbutznik
Gadi Moshe Mozes, who is 80. Fabian describes the utter chaos of
their releases, along with five Thai nations who were freed in a
separately mediated deal.


We look ahead to Saturday's release of three further hostages and
who may -- or may not -- be on the list, as well as future
pullbacks by the IDF.


And finally, we hear about what is happening along Israel's
northern borders with Lebanon and Syria.


For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s
ongoing live blog.


Discussed articles include:


Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Mozes, 5 Thais, freed amid mayhem in
Khan Younis; Agam Berger released


IDF reveals it killed Hamas terrorist seen dragging Naama
Levy to captivity on Oct. 7


Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple
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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


IMAGE: Gadi Moses, 80, center right, who has been held hostage by
Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023, is escorted by Hamas and
Islamic Jihad fighters as he is handed over to the Red Cross in
Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, January 30, 2025. (AP
Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)


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