The first seven Israeli hostages being freed in Gaza today are now with the Israeli military, the IDF confirms.
The statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says the seven returning hostages are "currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA [Israel Security Agency] forces on their return to Israel."
Once back in Israel, they will "undergo an initial medical assessment", it adds.
The military adds that it is "prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on".
Israel confirms names of first seven hostages released
The Israeli foreign ministry has confirmed the names of the first seven hostages released from Hamas this morning:
- Eitan Mor
- Gali Berman
- Ziv Berman
- Omri Miran
- Alon Ohel
- Guy Gilboa-Dalal
- Matan Angrest
It has shared the names in posts on social media, with pictures of the hostages alongside a caption reading, "Welcome home."
There were loud cheers in Hostages Square as news of the release emerged, reports Alice Cuddy from Tel Aviv Hamas has released a list of the 20 living hostages being freed today.
Thousands of people are gathered around the big screen here in Hostages Square, waving Israeli flags and signs saying "they're coming home".
A clock next to the screen has been keeping count of exactly how long the hostages have been in Gaza. The man next to me tells me he wants it to stop today.
I’ve just been speaking to Galit, who tells me she has been joining the rallies calling for the hostages’ release almost every week for the past two years. She says this a moment of "national unity".
They have been held in Gaza since the 7 October attacks in 2023 In exchange for the hostages, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 detainees.
An official involved with the operation has told Reuters that the Red Cross has arrived at the first collection point in Gaza.
The ICRC says it will not provide footage of released hostages or detainees during the operations, "out of respect for the dignity of those released and the condition they may be in, as well as issues linked to their safety".
US President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in Israel soon—he will later head to Egypt for a summit attended by around 20 world leaders.
On his way to the region, Trump declared the "war is over" in Gaza—although the next phases in the Israel-Hamas deal still need to be negotiated.
Widely praised for brokering a hugely consequential ceasefire, he left Washington for a lightning visit to the Middle East.
As he boarded Air Force One the president was upbeat, anticipating what he said would be an amazing time.
"Everybody's cheering at one time. That's never happened before. Usually if you have one cheering, the other isn't. The other is the opposite. This is the first time everybody is amazed and they're thrilled. And it's an honour to be involved," he said.
Speaking to reporters during the flight, Trump declared that the war was over. When asked by the BBC whether he believed the ceasefire would hold, he said it would.
He added that the region would soon “normalise,” with a planned supervisory body - the Board of Peace - to be established “very quickly” to oversee Gaza, which he described as looking like a “demolition site.”
