The mother of a Thai national held hostage in Gaza says she hopes her son will be emerging in Gaza soon.

"I am nervous and hope it will be [my son]," Wiwwaeo Sriaoun tells the AFP news agency by phone.

Watchara Sriaoun is among the six remaining Thai hostages held in Gaza. He moved to Israel three years ago to work as a farmer for better wages.

"I keep praying for him," she says. "Brothers and sisters at home are very happy and excited, but we have been disappointed many times."

We're getting pictures from Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where we've seen vehicles from the militant group Islamic Jihad.

We're expecting the next hostage release very soon.

Remember, you can watch our coverage from Gaza live at the top of the page.

In a separate deal to the Israel-Hamas deal, five Thai hostages are set to be released by Hamas this morning.

Neither Israel nor Hamas have confirmed who they are. Thailand says six citizens are being held in Gaza. Here's what we know about them:

• Bannawat Saethao: From the Nan province in northern Thailand, he was 27 when he was taken hostage. He has two children, with his youngest only one month old when he was captured
• Nattapong Pinta: His wife, Narissara Chanthasang, told the BBC in 2023 that "her heart was being squeezed"
• Sathian Suwannakham, from Thailand’s north-east. He was taken from the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel
• Surasak Rumnao: From Thailand's Udon Thani province. His mother tried to find him after the attacks, and only learned that he was captured when a freed Thai hostage told her
• Pongsak Thaenna: Aged 35 in 2023, he had been working in Israel for almost seven years before being captured. Pongsak’s brother was working in northern Israel and remained safe

• Watchara Sriaoun, who is also from Thailand’s north-east and has an eight year old daughter, Nudi. In February 2024, the BBC saw a video of Nudi praying that Hamas would soon release her father

In November 2023, Hamas freed 20 foreign hostages in Gaza, 19 of them from Thailand.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

There are jubilant scenes here in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square following female soldier Agam Berger’s release.

Groups of young people are chanting her name as they wave photos of the 20-year-old and the Israeli flag.

One just told us he did not know Agam personally but went to the same military training classes as her and had mutual friends.

"I'm so happy. My heart is full," he says.

We've just had a statement by Agam Berger's family, who have welcomed the return of their "hero" daughter.

"Thank God we have reached this moment, and our hero Agam has returned to us after 482 days in enemy hands.

"Our daughter is strong, faithful, and brave. We want to thank the security forces and all the people of Israel for their support and prayers.

"Now Agam and our family can begin the healing process, but the recovery will not be complete until all the hostages return home."

The statement was released via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Image source, IDF

We've now had confirmation from Israeli officials that Agam Berger has arrived at the reception point in southern Israel, and has been reunited with her family.

She's also met medical officials who will assess her at hospital, the IDF says.

We'll have a statement from the Berger family soon.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

Image source, Reuters

It begins with a phone call with a location.

Once the details are received, a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sets off in vehicles marked with the humanitarian organisation's logo to pick up the hostages in Gaza.

Israeli military and medical personnel are also assembled at several different locations, waiting to bring them home.

"This is more than just a drive," says ICRC spokesperson Sarah Davies.

"These operations may seem simple, but in fact they are very complex and require rigorous security measures to minimise the risks to those involved."

The ICRC, which acts as a neutral intermediary in the handover, assembles a team of specialists, some of whom have been involved in similar operations in the past - though this is more challenging than most.

There are some details that the group cannot speak about publicly because of concerns it could compromise the security of the operation.

Davies says they have mapped out alternative routes to get to different locations in Gaza, knowing that the "safest route can change" at any time.

Among their biggest concerns are the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance, destroyed and damaged infrastructure, and large crowds with "heightened emotions".

Read more about how the ICRC, Israel and Hamas coordinate the hostage release.

Image source, IDF

Four Israeli soldiers - who were freed from Gaza this weekend - watched Agam Berger's release this morning, according to pictures released by the Israeli military.

As we reported in our previous post, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag were released on Saturday after more than 15 months in captivity.

Under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, a total of 33 Israeli hostages were to be handed over in the first phase, in return for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

Of those 33:

• Three will be released today - Arbel Yehud, Gadi Moses and Agam Berger, who is already free
• Seven were previously released - Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag last Saturday, and Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari the previous weekend
• Eight are dead, the Israeli government said this week
• Fifteen are therefore due to be freed after today, with the next release scheduled for Saturday

Five Thai nationals are also expected to be released today - but that is not part of the Israel-Hamas deal.

This ceasefire deal is set to happen in three stages. It's still in stage one, which lasts 42 days, having begun on 19 January.

Lucy Williamson
Middle East correspondent, reporting from Holon

Image source, BBC News

Agam’s childhood friends from school gathered in an apartment to watch her release - the room hung with Israeli flags, party food laid out on a table.

Her appearance on screen, in the middle of Jabalia refugee camp, triggered a wave of singing, cheering and dancing.

One friend told me she had cried on seeing her walk out - for the past 15 months, she said, "there was a part of us missing".

Israel has confirmed that Agam Berger has crossed into Israeli territory.

A statement by the IDF and Israeli Security Agency says the returning hostage is "on her way to an initial reception point in southern Israel where she will be reunited with her parents".

The 20-year-old hostage was released in Jabalia in northern Gaza earlier, where she was handed to the Red Cross, who then transferred her to the Israeli military within Gaza.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

I've just been speaking to Yahel Oren, who served in the same unit as Agam Berger at the Nahal Oz military base close to the Gaza border 10 years ago.

"I'm thrilled... to see her face, to see her going back to her family. It's exciting," she says.

"All of us observers feel like it could have been any of us and if it was us we would want people fighting for us."

Several women from the unit, tasked with observing Gaza through surveillance footage, have said they had been warning of an attack in the months before 7 October 2023.

"Everything that was before needs to be questioned, needs to be investigated. We need to think it could happen again," she says.

We've just had this statement from the office of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "The Israeli government embraces Agam Berger, an Israel Defense Forces soldier."

It says the "government, together with all security agencies, will accompany her and her family".

The statement ends by saying the "Israeli government is committed to the return of all abducted and missing persons".

We've just had this statement from the Israeli military and the Israel Security Agency.

"The returning hostage has just been transferred to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip.

"The returning hostage is currently being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA forces on her return to Israeli territory, where she will undergo an initial medical assessment.

"The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces salute and embrace the returning hostage as she makes her way home to the state of Israel."

We've now received images of Agam Berger's release in Jabalia in northern Gaza.

The 20-year-old was taken on stage by armed militants before she was handed to the Red Cross.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

There were cheers among the small crowd gathered here in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square as Agam Berger was handed to the Red Cross in Jabalia, northern Gaza.

People watched live footage on a large screen as she got into a Red Cross vehicle. Some chanted her name.

Image source, Reuters

Pictures are coming in of Agam Berger, 20, being released in Jabalia in northern Gaza.

Ahead of being handed to the Red Cross, the 20-year-old was taken up on stage by armed militants.

Israeli officials say they have received confirmation from the Red Cross that one hostage has been handed over.

"They are on their way toward IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip," a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency reads.

We're seeing live footage now from Gaza of Agam Berger, 20, being handed over to the Red Cross by armed militants.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Hostages Square, Tel Aviv

Among the people set to be released today is 20-year-old Agam Berger.

Her photo hangs here in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, alongside others who were kidnapped on 7 October 2023.

Agam is the last member of an all-female unarmed military unit, known in Hebrew as Tatzpitaniyot, to remain in Gaza.

Seven women from the unit, tasked with observing Gaza on surveillance footage, were taken hostage from the Nahal Oz military base.

One was killed in Gaza, another rescued, and four released under the ceasefire deal.

Agam's family said they were "overjoyed and moved" by the return of the four other female soldiers on Saturday, while they continued to "eagerly await embracing Agam".