Hamas has released the first seven Israeli hostages as part of a monumental ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The handover of 48 captives – 20 of whom are believed to be alive – is expected to take place in Gaza today.
It comes after months of painstaking negotiations involving President Donald Trump finally resulted in a ceasefire agreement last week.
This morning, Hamas confirmed the names of 20 living hostages who will return home to their families as part of the deal.
They are being handed over to the Red Cross and then to the Israeli military, which will take them to the Reim military base to be reunited with families.
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Breaking:Seven hostages cross into Israel, military says
The seven living hostages freed by Hamas have returned to Israel, the country’s military has said.
The group will be transferred to a military base in southern Israel to be reunited with their families. They’ll then be taken by helicopter to Israeli hospitals.
WATCH: Tears and joy in Tel Aviv as hostages’ release begins
Keir Starmer arrives in Egypt ahead of world leaders’ summit
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport in Egypt last night.
There he will meet world leaders for a summit on ending the war in Gaza.
Welcome home! Israel shares photos of released hostages
‘History in the making’: Trump administration watches on from Air Force One
Donald Trump’s administration is watching the footage of the release of the hostages from Air Force One.
The US president is due to touch down in Israel shortly.
Today’s prisoner exchange comes following the signing of a historic ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, that was brokered by Trump.
Hostages are with the IDF on their return to Israel – military confirms
The first seven Israeli hostages are now in the hands of the IDF, it was confirmed on X just now.
The Israeli defense forces said the freed captives are ‘on their return to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment’.
It also made a plea to the public to ‘act responsibly and with sensitivity’ after their release.
They are awaiting the release of more hostages, who are set to be handed over to the Red Cross later this morning.
Hamas has released the first group of Israeli hostages after they spent more than two years in hellish captivity.
Seven captives were handed over to the Red Cross this morning, 737 days after they were taken into Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Families and friends of the hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that their loved ones were being released.
Read the full story below:
First seven hostages handed over to Israeli forces – military source
A military source has told Reuters that the first seven Israeli hostages have been handed over by the Red Cross to IDF forces.
Pictures show a Red Cross vehicle driving through Gaza to an Israeli-controlled territory.
Which hostages have been released?
The Israeli military is yet to confirm the names of the hostages who have been handed over by Hamas. However, they have been widely reported in Israeli media to be:
Eitan Mor
Gali Berman
Ziv Berman
Matan Angrest
Omri Miran
Alon Ohel
Guy Gilboa-Dalal
Israeli air force helicopter on stand-by to airlift hostages to hospital
Pictures are coming in showing the huge operation to get the Israeli hostages to safety.
Here, an Israeli military helicopter is on stand-by on the Re’im military base in southern Israeli, waiting to take freed captives to hospital where they will need urgent medical attention.
IN PICTURES: Palestinian militants stand guard as hostages are released
More images are coming through from Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
A group of masked Palestinian militants armed with rifles can be seen standing guard in the area.
Breaking:Red Cross convoy pictured transporting Israeli hostages out of Hamas-controlled territory
The first images of a Red Cross convoy transporting the first freed hostages through Gaza has been released.
The IDF confirmed earlier this morning that the hostages are on their way to an Israeli-controlled part of Gaza.
There they will be transported to Re’im military base in southern Israel where they will be reunited with their families.
WATCH: People across Israel anxiously wait for the release of the hostages
Tears and joy in Hostage Square
Emotional scenes are coming out of Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as thousands of people wait for Israeli hostages to be released.
They are the latest pictures.
Breaking:Israel confirms handover of seven hostages
The Israel Defense Forces has just confirmed the handover of the first seven hostages to the Red Cross.
They are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in Gaza, they have confirmed via X.
‘The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on,’ they said in a post.
This has also been confirmed by Hamas.
Ambulances are on stand-by to take the Israeli hostages for vital medical attention
Israeli soldiers and medics are on stand-by to take the first freed Israeli hostages to hospital.
Once Hamas have handed them over to the Red Cross, they will be transferred to a part of Gaza which is controlled by the Israeli military.
Then they will be transported to Re’im military base in southern Israel where they will be reunited with their families.
They will be taken to hospitals, with the Israeli air force on hand to immediately airlift any hostages who require urgent medical attention.
Applause breaks out at news of first release as crowds gather in Hostage Square
Thousands of people are gathered in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as they nervously await for the hostages to be released after 737 days in captivity.
People cheered and embraced one another as it was announced the first seven Israeli hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas.
Others waved flags and signs saying ‘they’re coming home’.
These are the latest scenes.
1,966 Palestinian prisoners have boarded buses at Israeli prisons
Palestinian detainees are also being released today during this historic prisoner exchange. An official involved in the operation has told Reuters that all 1,966 prisoners being released by Israel have now boarded buses.
Hamas hands over first Israeli hostages to the Red Cross
The first seven Israeli hostages are now in the custody of the Red Cross in Gaza, an official involved in the operation has confirmed to Reuters.
Hostage’s father says ‘this is a dream come true’ as he awaits son’s release
The father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who was kidnapped from the Nova festival, told Israeli news outlet Haaretz that his son ‘was handed over to the Red Cross’.
He continued: ‘In 15 minutes he is expected to be handed over to the IDF, and then he will arrive here’.
Family and friends watch the live broadcast of hostages being released
Breaking:Hamas hands over the first seven hostages
Israel says Hamas has handed over the first seven hostages to the Red Cross as part of the Gaza ceasefire.
There was no immediate information on their condition.
Noa Argamani’s boyfriend among hostages soon to be released
Noa Argamani was one of the Israelis kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the October 7, 2023 atrocities.
She became one of the most high profile faces of the tragedy after a picture emerged of her being captured by Hamas operatives.
Argamani was taken alongside her boyfriend, Avinatan Or.
She was rescued by IDF soldiers on June 8, 2024.
Or’s name was included on the list of hostages who will be freed today.
Israel will award Trump highest civilian honor
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office said he will award U.S. President Donald Trump Israel’s highest civilian honor, the ‘Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor,’ for his efforts to bring the hostages home.
He is scheduled to land just after 9am local time.
Hamas releases list of name of 20 hostages who will be freed today
Hamas has released a list of names of the surviving hostages who will soon return home to their families.
Bar Kupershtein
Evyatar David
Yosef-Chaim Ohana
Segev Kalfon
Avinatan Or
Elkana Bohbot
Maxim Herkin
Nimrod Cohen
Matan Zangauker
David Cunio
Eitan Horn
Matan Angrest
Eitan Mor
Gali Berman
Ziv Berman
Omri Miran
Alon Ohel
Guy Gilboa-Dalal
Rom Braslabski
Ariel Kon
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First freed Israeli hostages are on their way back to their families as Trump hails ‘history in the making’: Live updates
