Statement on January 30 Hostage Release

Jewish Federations are overjoyed to welcome home Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Moses, and Agam Berger, as well as five Thai nationals, after a horrific 482 days held in Hamas captivity. 

Arbel Yehoud’s family has lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz for three generations. She lost her brother Dolev Yehoud on October 7th, and her partner Ariel Cunio and his brother David Cunio remain in Hamas captivity. 

80-year-old Gadi Moses is an agronomist from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His partner Efrat was murdered the day he was taken hostage.

Agam Berger, was taken from Nahal Oz, where she was an observer, and was taken alongside observers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy, who were released in previous rounds.

The five Thai nationals were in Israel working in agriculture: Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat, Rumnao Surasak. Few details have been released about them individually.

Each time someone is freed from captivity in Gaza and reunited with their loved ones, we are overcome with emotion and hope. Yet, true healing for our community remains out of reach until every last one of the remaining 82 hostages is safely returned. We pray that in the coming weeks, they will all be reunited with their families.