Seven hostages freed by Hamas in Gaza now in Israeli custody
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said that the seven living hostages earlier freed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were now in Israeli custody.
“We’ve been waiting 738 days to say this: Welcome home,” the Israeli foreign ministry posted on X, identifying the released captives as Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Gali and Ziv Berman and Omri Miran.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the release the hostages and said that Israel is awaiting the release of all remaining captives.
“With thanks to God we welcome our loved ones. We are waiting for everyone – every last one,” Herzog posted on X after the Israeli army confirmed it had received the first group of seven hostages released from Gaza.
Hamas earlier released the hostages into the custody of the Red Cross on Monday, the first to be freed as part of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. There was no immediate information on their condition.
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The hostages will cross into Israel and be transferred to a military base to be reunited with their families. They will then be taken by helicopter to Israeli hospitals.
Hamas has said 20 living hostages will be exchanged for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Families and friends of hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that the hostages were in the hands of the Red Cross.
Tens of thousands of Israelis are watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv.
The Red Cross said on Monday it had begun “a multi-phase operation” to oversee the release of hostages and prisoners as part of the Israel-Hamas war ceasefire.
The Red Cross said it will receive hostages held in the Gaza Strip to transfer them to Israeli authorities, while also overseeing the release of prisoners to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The Red Cross “will also facilitate the transfer of remains of the deceased so that families can bury their loved ones with dignity,” it added.