Buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arrived to cheers in the occupied West Bank yesterday, after the release of three Israeli hostages and five Thais by resistance forces in Gaza.

At around dusk, two buses carrying the inmates left from the West Bank's Ofer Prison after Israel said it had received assurances from mediators over the future "safe release" of captives.

Hundreds of joyous Palestinians greeted them when they arrived in Ramallah.

Flashing a victory sign, the first to disembark from the bus was Zakaria Zubeidi, 49, a former top militant leader jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis.

The cheering crowd immediately hoisted him onto their shoulders.

Israel's prison service confirmed it had freed 110 inmates under the latest exchange, the third hostage-prisoner swap under a January 19 ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

Another hostage and prisoner release is scheduled for tomorrow, with three Israeli men due to be set free.

After more than 15 months of captivity, fighters in Gaza earlier yesterday freed the three Israelis, as well as five Thais, as part of ceasefire agreement mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

First to be freed was 20-year-old Israeli soldier Agam Berger, who was handed over to International Committee of the Red Cross officials in Jabalia, northern Gaza.

Before her release footage showed her on a stage, with masked Hamas members in distinctive green headbands.

All the freed Israeli and Thai hostages were taken to hospitals after their return to Israel, the military said.

The two other freed Israelis are civilians Gadi Moses, 80, and Arbel Yehud, 29, both of whom also hold German nationality.

Yehud's family, still awaiting the release of her partner and brother from Gaza, urged future releases to go ahead unhindered.

"We urge everyone not to let this open door close. Everyone must be brought home immediately so that we can heal as a society," the family said.

Netanyahu's office named the freed Thais as Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamnau and Bannawat Saethao.

In war-devastated Khan Yunis, dense crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Yehud and Moses near the childhood home of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who Israel killed in October.

On August 1, Israel's military had announced the killing of the Hamas military chief, Mohammed Deif, but Hamas had never confirmed his death -- until a statement from the group yesterday announced his "martyrdom".

The ceasefire hinges on the release of Israeli hostages, in exchange for around 1,900 people -- mostly Palestinians -- in Israeli custody.

The truce deal has allowed a surge of aid into Gaza, where the war has created a long-running humanitarian crisis.

The ceasefire deal is currently in its first, 42-day phase, which should see a total of 33 hostages freed in stages. The Thai hostages are not included in that number.

Negotiations for a second phase of the deal should start next Monday. This phase would cover the release of the remaining captives.

More than 376,000 displaced Palestinians have gone back to northern Gaza since Israel reopened access this week, according to the UN humanitarian office OCHA.
Related Story