Hamas released the first group of living Israeli hostages from Gaza this morning under a deal with Israel aimed at ending the two-year war that began on October 7, 2023.
Seven hostages: Gali and Ziv Berman, aged 28 and 27; Matan Angrest, 22; Alon Ohel, 24; Omri Miran, 47; Eitan Mor, 25; and Guy Gilboa-Dallal, 23, crossed into Israel 737 days after being captured during the Hamas-led attacks.
According to Israeli authorities, the group is being transferred to a military base for medical assessment and to reunite with their families before being flown to hospitals for further evaluation. There was no immediate official statement on their physical condition.
Television footage showed scenes of celebration across Israel as families of hostages and supporters cheered and wept with relief at the news of the release. Some relatives said they had already managed to video call their loved ones.
One hostage, Nimrod Cohen, who is expected to be released later in the day, was seen on a video call appearing frail but smiling while dressed in what appeared to be a fake military uniform.
The first exchange marks the beginning of a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas that will see 20 surviving hostages and the remains of 28 others returned in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. A second group of captives is due to be released at 10 a.m. local time (8am BST).
Trump Arrives in Israel
President Donald Trump landed in Tel Aviv shortly before 7.50am local time aboard Air Force One, declaring upon departure from Washington that “the war is over.”
Trump is scheduled to meet with the families of freed hostages and deliver an address to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, later this morning. He will then travel to Egypt for the official signing ceremony of the first phase of the Gaza peace deal alongside other international leaders.
In a statement from the office of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, it was announced that Trump will receive the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour, the nation’s highest civilian award, in recognition of his role in securing the release of hostages from Hamas captivity. The medal will be formally presented to him in the coming months.
The release of hostages marks the most significant breakthrough in negotiations since the war began two years ago, offering a tentative step toward ending one of the region’s deadliest and most protracted conflicts in recent history.
