Middle East: 3 Israeli, 5 Thai hostages released

Since the truce took effect on January 19, Gaza militants have released 15 hostages after holding them in captivity since their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Siegel is Israeli American, and Bibas was captured with his wife and two young children, one of whom was nearly 9 months old at the time.

Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon were released to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday (1 February).

Hamas on Saturday released two out of three Israeli hostages as part of the fourth exchange under the ceasefire deal, ahead of the expected release of 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.