After an harrowing 482 days in captivity, three Israeli hostages are expected to be released today (Thursday) from Hamas captivity, as part of the hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas. They are:
- Agam Berger, the last remaining female IDF lookout soldier held by Hamas.
- Arbel Yehud, who was supposed to be released last week, but was held back after Hamas violated the agreement.
- Gadi Moses, who was the first among six members of the Katz-Moses-Asher family abducted to Gaza. His partner was murdered on October 7.
These are their stories.
Agam Berger
Agam, 19, from Holon, was one of five female IDF observers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz outpost, and the last one still in captivity. She had been on duty for just one day prior to her kidnapping, due to a last-minute reassignment.
Her mother, Meirav, recalled: "Agam was initially assigned to Kerem Shalom, but at the last moment, her posting was changed to Nahal Oz. On Thursday, she traveled to the base. I sent her a video with our farewell wishes." The next day, after just one shift as a lookout in Nahal Oz, she was brutally abducted.
A gifted violinist since the age of eight, Agam's room has become a place of remembrance and longing for her friends. The walls are covered with pictures of her and messages of hope and anticipation for her return. Her violin remains untouched on her bed. On her bookshelf, a Torah scroll is placed among her belongings.
Arbel Yehud
Arbel, 29, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with her partner of five years, Ariel Cunio. The two had known each other since childhood, growing up together in the kibbutz, where their love later blossomed. Before the attack, they had traveled across Central and South America. On the morning of October 7, Hamas terrorists kidnapped them from the safe room in their home. The dog they had adopted just days earlier, Marf, was shot and killed by the terrorists.
The Yehud family has deep roots in Nir Oz—Arbel's grandparents were among the kibbutz founders, and all three Yehud siblings lived there (their parents, Yechiel and Yael, had relocated to Rishon Lezion a few years ago).
For months, the family believed that Arbel's older brother, Dolev Yehud (35), had also been abducted to Gaza. His wife, Sigi, was nine months pregnant at the time and had remained in the safe room with their three young children: Raz, Yotam, and Ron.
A week and a half after the massacre, on October 18, Sigi gave birth to their youngest daughter, Dor. However, on June 3, the family received devastating news - Dolev's body had been found in Israel. Until then, he had been classified as a hostage. His remains were discovered in Nir Oz after an intensive investigation by the IDF's Eitan Unit (Missing Persons Recovery Division).
When Arbel returns, she will face the painful reality that she has lost her brother.
Gadi Moses
Gadi Moses, 80, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his partner, Efrat Katz (69), who was murdered by Hamas. Together with them, four other members of their extended family were also kidnapped: Doron Katz Asher (34), and her two daughters, Raz (4.5) and Aviv (2.5), from Ganot Hadar.
Gadi, a lecturer in agriculture specializing in potatoes and water management, was the first hostage among six members of the Katz-Moses-Asher family to be taken to Gaza on October 7.
His partner, Efrat Katz, was murdered. Doron and her two daughters, Raz and Aviv, were released in the first phase of the hostage deal, as was Gadi's former wife, Margalit Moses.
Gadi has been held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which previously released a video showing him alongside another hostage from Nir Oz, Elad Katzir. In the footage, Gadi appeared to be in very poor physical condition.
The next group of hostages is expected to be released on Saturday as part of the ongoing agreement.
