Third round of hostages to be released as part of Gaza ceasefire agreement

Hamas has initiated a third round of releasing hostages in Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. The first hostage to be freed was female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, 20, who was handed over to the Red Cross in a ceremony in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya in northern Gaza. She was later transferred to the Israel Defense Forces.

The release ceremony took place in front of the destroyed home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the southern city of Khan Younis. Hundreds of people, including masked militants and onlookers, attended the event.

Hamas has agreed to release three Israelis and five Thai captives on Thursday in exchange for the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners by Israel. This exchange is part of the ongoing efforts to wind down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, which was sparked by Hamas’ attack into Israel on October 7, 2023.

Despite a dispute earlier in the week over the sequence of hostage releases, the ceasefire agreement has held. The truce is seen as a positive step towards peace in the region.

This is a developing story and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bradford Betz is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital, covering crime, political issues, and more.