Three Israelis, including 20-year-old IDF border observer Agam Berger and civilians Arbel Yehud, 29, and Gadi Mozes, 81, were freed from Gaza on Thursday along with five Thai nationals after 482 days in captivity.
Berger was the first to reach Israeli territory. She reunited with her parents at an IDF reception complex near the Gaza border, after which she was taken by helicopter with her parents to Beilinson Medical Center in Petach Tikva for medical evaluation and care.
Friends, family, and neighbors gathered outside Berger’s home in Holon where they recited the Mizmor L’Todah, a psalm of thanks next to a Torah scroll to celebrate her safe return.
As with prior female soldiers — all of them just 19 and 20 years old — Berger was paraded by Hamas before a screaming mob in the northern Gaza city of Jabaliya and forced on to a stage for a propaganda photo shoot during which she bravely waved at the horde before being whisked away for transfer.
Yehud and Mozes were transferred from Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists to Red Cross personnel outside the demolished southern Gaza home of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Khan Younis. Sinwar was assassinated by the IDF last year but remains an icon to many Gazans.
The two Israeli civilians were handed over to the Red Cross amidst what appeared to be near-total chaos: a screaming, shoving, hate-filled mob comprised mostly of armed Islamic Jihad terrorists.
Mozes and Yehud were transferred by Red Cross personnel to Israeli forces, who brought them to the special IDF initial reception complex where they were reunited with their families within Israeli territory before being taken to the hospital for follow-up evaluation and care.
“I view with utmost severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is additional proof of the inconceivable brutality of the Hamas terrorist organization,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to footage of the screaming mobs surrounding the freed hostages.
“I demand that the mediators make certain that such terrible scenes do not recur, and guarantee the safety of our hostages. Whoever dares to harm our hostages will pay the price,” he said.
The five Thai captives were brought by the Red Cross to waiting Shin Bet intelligence agents and IDF special forces in Gaza, who then brought them to Israeli territory.
Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat, Rumnao Surasak were met at an IDF initial reception complex by Thai government officials.
Upon their return to Israeli territory, they too underwent an initial medical assessment at an IDF reception complex before being taken to the hospital for further care.
“The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel,” the IDF said.
In exchange for freeing the eight hostages, Israel is releasing 110 terrorist prisoners, including 33 who are serving life sentences.
