More hostage releases under way in Gaza

The latest releases of hostages held by Hamas as part of the ceasefire with Israel is under way in the Gaza Strip.

Soldier Agam Berger was handed to the Red Cross in a stage-managed event after being brought out of from a scene of rubble by gunmen.

The hostages being released are three Israelis and five Thai nationals.

It is the third such release as part of the deal, which also involves the freeing of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel in exchange.

A total of 110 Palestinian prisoners are due to be freed on Thursday.

The releases scheduled for Thursday mean 15 hostages will have been freed since the ceasefire came into effect on 19 January.

Two hundred and fifty one people were taken hostage when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people. The attack triggered a war which has devastated Gaza.

Israel’s military offensive killed more than 47,300 Palestinians in the territory, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.