With Israel and Hamas having reached a ceasefire agreement on January 15, 2025, which officially came into effect on January 19, 2025, the war has now ended. Meanwhile, our reporters have investigated the strategy of the United Arab Emirates in the region.

The father of a Thai farmhand who was held hostage in Gaza for 15 months could barely get the words out at hearing the news of his son’s release.

Thailand urges the release of hostages in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, highlighting its call for peace and humanitarian action.

Follow NBC News live updates for the latest coverage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

The release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners as laid out in the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal had been in doubt after crowds in southern Gaza surrounded hostages who were being freed.

The deal, he noted, will not only halt the fighting and bombardment of the Gaza Strip, but also enable the release of 33 hostages who were taken by Hamas in its deadly offensive on Oct 7 ...

In total, three Israeli and five Thai nationals are set to be freed today, with more than 100 Palestinian prisoners expected to be released later.

Israel had delayed their release in protest against the way the eight hostages freed by Hamas were treated as they were handed over to Red Cross staff in Khan Younis. View on euronews

When the mother of one of the Thai hostages held in the Gaza Strip for over a year caught sight of her son on a Facebook livestream after his release Thursday, he had changed so much that she didn’t recognize him at first.

In the wake of the attack, some 7,000 returned home, primarily on government evacuation flights, but higher wages have continued to attract new arrivals. Thai ambassador to Israel Pannabha Chandraramya said Thursday that there are now more than 38,000 Thai workers in the country.

In exchange, Israel freed 110 Palestinian prisoners. Their release was delayed because of chaos surrounding Thursday’s hostage handover in Gaza.