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Israel says three hostages - who had been held by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months - are back in Israeli territory

The hostages were released by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza City hours after a ceasefire began, before being handed to the Israeli military

They have been confirmed as 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, dual British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, and 24-year-old Romi Gonen

Emily was seen with a bandaged hand, hugging her mother, in a video call shared with the BBC's Lucy Manning

Hamas says for every hostage released, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails

The long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza came into force after a last-minute delay, with Palestinians beginning to return to the cities they fled

In the hours the ceasefire was delayed, Israel continued hitting Gaza, killing 19 more people, according to the Hamas-run civil defence agency

The Israeli military has just said the three released hostages - Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher, and Romi Gonen - are now travelling to an Israeli hospital in a helicopter for treatment.

The women are travelling with their mothers, and will be reunited with other family members at the hospital.

The treatment was a planned part of their release from 15 months being held hostage in Gaza.
The released hostages on their way to the helicopter

The transfer took place in western Gaza City between Red Cross workers and Hamas earlier this afternoon - it was a chaotic scene, as our reporter explained
The Israeli government has welcomed the news, saying the "families have been informed by the relevant authorities that they have joined our forces"
Friends and family members watching the hostages dramatic return reacted by chanting their names and cheering
Simultaneously, several Red Cross coaches have begun entering the prison grounds in the occupied West Bank to pick up Palestinian prisoners - it's expected that 90 prisoners will be freed from prisons there today, in exchange for the three Israeli hostages

Earlier, Red Cross teams were seen arriving at the prison.
Families of those who had been detained packed into a town square close to the detention centre, while others stood on a hill overlooking the prison.

There were also reports of Israeli far-right protesters, and pictures show a man being held by Israeli police.

As a reminder, Egypt's foreign ministry said yesterday 1,890 Palestinian prisoners will be released in the first stage of the ceasefire, in exchange for the return of 33 Israeli hostages captured by Hamas.

As our colleague Lucy Manning reported earlier, Emily was shot in the hand and dragged into Gaza from her home in southern Israel during the 7 October attack
Picture shows Emily cheering with bandaged hand

This deal is, arguably, the most fragile of all. Gaza lies in utter ruin. Israel is scarred by October 7th. Prime Minister Netanyahu, and his allies on the far right, are vowing to stop any path towards a Palestinian state - what Palestinians and capitals the world over believe is the only way to end this endless cycle.

Recent polls show only a minority of Palestinians and Israeli Jews still believe in it. But a recent survey, by researchers on both sides, showed that more than 60% preferred a regional peace based on a two-state solution and normalisation if the alternative was a war on many fronts.

That’s where this deal may be different. Regional powers are more engaged than ever before. And the US, which has always played a pivotal role, will soon be led by a president who’s already proved he’s prepared to exert pressure to stop wars.

Whether that will make the difference will soon be clear. It’s always been said - only warring sides themselves can make peace.


Media gather at Sheba medical centre
Both inside and outside Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, a concentration of national and international press waits in anticipation.

Whatever the divide in this country as to the merits of the long-awaited hostage deal, the return of the first three hostages is a huge moment for a country still reeling from the collective trauma of 7 October 2023.


Earlier, sitting on a sofa, Emily Damari’s mum and the mother’s of the two other freed hostages watch on a phone the moment their daughter’s returned to Israel.

Emily Damari has after 471 days come out from the darkness to the light, from her Hamas captors to her mother’s arms.

Mandy has achieved her only aim: to hug her daughter once again.

Tonight in a statement she thanked everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily and never stopped saying her name.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari says in a press conference that in this first six-week stage "three to four additional hostages will be released each week".

A Hamas official has also just told AFP news agency that the next hostage-prisoner swap will take place on Saturday.

Hagari also spoke about what went wrong this morning, when the ceasefire was delayed by about two-and-a-half hours.

He says after Hamas failed to submit the names of the three hostages at the agreed-upon time, "we struck Hamas military infrastructure and armed terrorists in vehicles... We will not tolerate deviations from the agreements, as we made clear this morning".

What else is included in the ceasefire deal?The truce will be carried out in three stages. The first six-week phase of the deal will see 33 hostages returned from Hamas, and Egypt says Israel will release more than 1,800 Palestinian prisoners in return.

In their first statement since releasing the hostages, Hamas says they will continue to observe the ceasefire deal that came into effect at 09:15 GMT today.

The group's armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, says it will follow the timetable of the hostages-for-prisoners swap during the first six-week phase.

But in his video speech, spokesman Abu Ubaida warns that any possible Israeli violations of the ceasefire would threaten the deal, and put the lives of other hostages still being held in Gaza at risk.

"Everything is dependent on the commitment by the enemy," he says, as he urges mediators to keep Israel committing to the deal.

In his statement, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to Mandy Damari - mother of released hostage Emily Damari. We've just had this statement from Mandy:

"After 471 days Emily is finally home.

"I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal, and who never stopped saying her name. In Israel, Britain, the United States, and around the world. Thank you for bringing Emily home.

"While Emily’s nightmare in Gaza is over, for too many other families the impossible wait continues. Every last hostage must be released, and humanitarian aid must be provided to the hostages who are still waiting to come home."

We've just has this statement from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after the release of the three hostages - who include UK national Emily Damari.

"The release of three hostages today is wonderful and long-overdue news after months of agony for them and their families," he says.

"Among them is British citizen Emily Damari, who will now be reunited with her family, including her mother Amanda who has never stopped her tireless fight to bring her daughter home.

"I wish them all the very best as they begin the road to recovery after the intolerable trauma they have experienced. We stand ready to offer assistance and support.

"However, today also represents another day of suffering for those who haven't made it home yet - so while this ceasefire deal should be welcomed, we must not forget about those who remain in captivity under Hamas."


Minutes after the IDF confirmed the first three hostages had been handed over, the Israeli president shared his relief the exchange had taken place successfully.

"Romi, Emily, and Doron – so beloved and missed – an entire nation rejoices at your return," Isaac Herzog writes on X.

"We send you and your families a huge embrace. This is a day of joy and comfort, and the beginning of a challenging journey of recovery and healing together."

SeverusSnape:
Great... Welcome back home after being in the terrorist's den for 15 months.
I see the terrorists Ham-ass wearing masks, The fear of Israeli drone is the beginning of wisdom... Show your face and get roasted.

Moroccoguy:
Which Israeli are you talking about, with all the bombing they couldn't free any of the hostage until the agreement reached on Thursday mind you those Hamas still has about 93 Israelites hostage.

Moroccoguy:
The defeat is too heavy for Israel making most of their to minister's to resign.

SeverusSnape:
Great... Welcome back home after being in the terrorist's den for 15 months.
I see the terrorists Ham-ass wearing masks, The fear of Israeli drone is the beginning of wisdom... Show your face and get roasted.

Moroccoguy:
The defeat is too heavy for Israel making most of their to minister's to resign.

Gadafii:
So Israel failed to decimate Hamas despite the tones of bomb they dropped in Gaza, hostages were still held till now?

They killed everything in Gaza except Hamas, clowns 🤡

Moroccoguy:
The defeat is too heavy for Israel making most of their to minister's to resign.

Moroccoguy:
The defeat is too heavy for Israel making most of their to minister's to resign.

Moroccoguy:
Which Israeli are you talking about, with all the bombing they couldn't free any of the hostage until the agreement reached on Thursday mind you those Hamas still has about 93 Israelites hostage.

Standing5:
With all the cries about Genocide, these animals kept hostages.

Zooposki:
Na wa o. Them don already cut off two of the girls fingers. They did not even waste time to show their hatred of women. Islam and hate for women like 5 and 6.

Righteousness2:
The Palestinians are the only people in the world who can go from allegations of "genocide" to "victory" in a minute.

Moroccoguy:
The defeat is too heavy for Israel making most of their to minister's to resign.

Righteousness2:
40 of the 54 Hamas leaders—the men who started this ultra victorious war 15 months ago—will be unable to attend the "victory parade" amid the rubble, due to unforseen circumstances! and Partying with their 72 virgins in Hell.

Righteousness2:
The Palestinians are the only people in the world who can go from allegations of "genocide" to "victory" in a minute.

Botragelad:
Source;
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ckg0znng8x2t