Jan 30, 2025
A Statement on the Hostage Release From the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)
JFNA is overjoyed to welcome home Arbel Yehud, Gadi Mozes and Agam Berger, as well as five Thai nationals, after a horrific 482 days held in Hamas captivity.
Arbel Yehud’s family has lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz for three generations. She lost her brother Dolev Yehoud on October 7, and her partner Ariel Cunio and his brother David Cunio remain in Hamas captivity.
Eighty-year-old Gadi Mozes 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 and Rumnao Surasak. Few details have been released about them individually.
With every soul released from captivity in Gaza and reunited with their families, we are filled with emotion and hope. Yet our community cannot fully begin to heal until every last one of the remaining 82 hostages is released. We pray that in the coming weeks, they all will be.
