Following more than a year in captivity in the Gaza Strip, five Thai hostages were released in an emotional exchange on Thursday. The hostages, who were kidnapped from southern Israel in October 2023, were greeted by a jubilant crowd of Israeli doctors, nurses, and officials as they arrived at a hospital outside Tel Aviv for medical evaluation and recovery.
The release of the Thai hostages was part of a larger exchange that also saw the release of three Israelis and 110 Palestinian prisoners. The hostages, who had been held underground and deprived of sunlight for extended periods, were described as being in fair health by medical professionals.
