All of the surviving Israeli hostages have been released from Gaza this morning. After 737 days in captivity, Hamas freed the hostages under a deal with Israel to end the two-year war.
This morning, the first seven living hostages, Gali and Ziv Berman, 28 and 27, Matan Angrest, 22, Alon Ohel, 24, Omri Miran, 47, Eitan Mor, 25, and Guy Gilboa-Dallal, 23, were freed, with a second group of 13 now released to the Red Cross. They will soon be leaving Gaza to be reunited with their families and will be taken to hospital.
Israeli television channels announced their release this morning, with the hostages’ relatives and friends heard breaking into loud cheers. The remains of 28 deceased hostages must also be returned under the deal, which will also see 2,000 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails.
The Israeli military this morning released the first images of some of the hostages who were received by the Israeli Defence Forces this morning. Pictured included twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman embracing.
Israel has said it does not expect all the bodies of the dead hostages to be returned by the terror group today.
As the hostage release was still underway, US President Donald Trump landed in Israel to meet with families of the hostages and to speak before the Israeli Parliament.
“Everybody is happy whether it’s Jewish or Muslim or the Arab countries. Every country is dancing in the streets,” Mr Trump told media aboard Air Force One. “I may be in heaven right now as we fly in Air Force One, I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to make heaven, but I’ve made life a lot better for a lot of people.”
Mr Trump, who brokered the first stage of the peace deal between Israeli and Hamas, wrote in a book in the country’s parliament, the Knesset, “This is a great honour – a great and beautiful day. A new beginning.”
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