Hamas handed captive Israeli soldier Agam Berger over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, the first of eight hostages set to be released today as part of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is set to free two more Israeli hostages as well as five Thai captives,

The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting.

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Thursday set free a total of eight hostages - three Israelis and five Thai nationals - who had been held since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. This marks the third round of releases since an initial six-week truce between Israel and the militant group Hamas in Gaza went into effect on January 19.