Israel releases Palestinian prisoners, after Hamas frees Israeli hostages in Gaza

Summary

Hamas has released three Israeli hostages, after days of fears over future of the Gaza ceasefire
The hostages are now back in Israel - watch our coverage live at the top of the page
Israel is releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners in return - a few went to the West Bank, the majority are now arriving in Gaza
Hamas said on Monday it would not release hostages this weekend, blaming Israel for alleged violations of the the ceasefire
Israel said if hostages weren't released by midday (local time) on Saturday, it would resume attacks on Gaza
Today's hostage release is a positive sign - but Palestinians are still concerned about the ceasefire, writes our Gaza correspondent Rushdi Abualouf

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Watch: Celebrations in Israel as three more hostages released

Live Reporting

Edited by Jenna Moon and Rorey Bosotti, with Alice Cuddy in Ramallah, and Davide Ghiglione and Paul Adams in Tel Aviv

A positive sign for the ceasefire - but the second phase is crucialpublished at 10:06 Greenwich Mean Time
Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent, in Cairo
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
A drone shot of the hostage release in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, earlier today
Hamas’s smooth and timely release of the sixth batch of Israeli hostages is a positive sign for the potential completion of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
However, most Palestinians remain concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the crucial second phase (the first phase, which began on 19 January, is due to last six weeks).
Delays in implementing the second phase of the agreement would mean that Israeli forces would continue to hold positions in buffer zones in Gaza along the borders with Israel and Egypt.
More importantly, it would further postpone reconstruction efforts and prolong the suffering of over a million Palestinians whose homes were destroyed in the war, leaving them in catastrophic conditions.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, debate continues over Hamas’s weekly military parade.
Supporters view it as a symbol of victory and defiance against Israel - while critics argue that Hamas’s insistence on remaining in power and in the political scene, despite the widespread destruction in Gaza, only deepen their suffering .
'Today is a good day': Israelis celebrate following hostage releasepublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time
Davide Ghiglione
Reporting from Tel Aviv
Sharone Lifschitz - the daughter of Yocheved Lifschitz, an 85-year-old Israeli peace activist who was kidnapped by Hamas and released a year ago, and whose father Oded Lifschitz is still being held in Gaza - says today’s hostage release is "a great victory".
"Today is a good day. Three members of my kibbutz came home. There were so many moments where this seemed impossible; we didn’t know whether they’d come home," she says while cheering in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv.
"Putting aside everything else, that’s a victory. That’s what we’ve been working for all along," she adds.
Cheers and tears in Ramallah as released Palestinians arrivepublished at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time
Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Ramallah
Media caption,
Released Palestinians prisoners welcomed in Ramallah
Cheers erupted here in Ramallah as a minibus carrying released prisoners arrived.
Crowds surrounded the bus knocking on the windows and waving.
Men were then carried through the streets and waved, as people chanted "Allahu Akhbar" (God is greatest).
Relatives of some of those being released wept.
There was a heavy security presence to oversee the release.
Image source, Reuters
First freed Palestinians arrive in Ramallahpublished at 09:36 Greenwich Mean Time
Breaking
We're seeing the first pictures of Palestinian prisoners and detainees being released from Israeli prisons as they arrive in Ramallah on a Red Cross bus.
We'll bring you more images of the scene there soon.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Crowds gather around the bus of the newly released Palestinian prisoners
Crowd gathers in Ramallah ahead of prisoner releasepublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Ramallah
A crowd has gathered in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, for today’s prisoner release - a small number of the released Palestinians will be brought here.
People gathered, including relatives of the prisoners, have spoken of their relief that the ceasefire has held, allowing today’s releases to go ahead.
“We've been so nervous, we haven't been sleeping since we heard the [ceasefire] deal might fall through. We were so disappointed. We've just been wishing that it will continue and Gaza will be rebuilt and all the prisoners will be released," says one man awaiting the release of a relative detained during the second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, which took place from 2000 to 2005.
Today's release includes people convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis and people arrested and held without trial or charge.
Netanyahu's office thanks Trump after hostage releasepublished at 09:33 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Reuters
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a statement in Hebrew welcoming the return of the three hostages today.
It says the government is continuing to work with the US to secure the release of those still held in Gaza.
The statement also reiterates the claim that Hamas "tried to violate the agreement" this week, saying the group caused a "fake crisis with false claims".
It says that it is thanks to Israel's forces in and around the Gaza strip - and US President Donald Trump's "clear and unequivocal statement" - that hostage releases are continuing.
It ends by saying Israel is working with the US with the aim getting all the hostages out of Gaza as quickly as possible.
Six photos showing how the hostage handover unfoldedpublished at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time
As we've been reporting, three more hostages - Alexander Troufanov, Yair Horn, and Sagui Dekel-Chen - have now been released by Hamas and brought to Israel.
You can see images below showing how the handover unfolded.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
As with previous handovers, a stage was erected by Hamas for a highly-choreographed handover
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The hostages were brought to the area in vehicles accompanied by armed gunmen
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Argentine-Israeli hostage Yair Horn is escorted by armed gunmen
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Red Cross vehicles at the scene moments before the handover
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The hostages were flanked by gunmen and brought onto a stage for the official handover
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
People gathered in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to watch as the hand over took place
Israel says 'unimaginable' conditions for hostage held in Gazapublished at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, State of Israel / X
Image caption,
Pictures of Yair Horn published by the Israeli government this morning
Israel says that that Argentine-Israeli hostage Yair Horn was held in "unimaginable conditions".
Horn was released earlier this morning alongside two other hostages, Alexander Troufanov and Sagui Dekel-Chen.
A post on the official Israel X account says that Horn and his brother Eitan were "violently kidnapped" on October 7 and were held in "unimaginable conditions for nearly 500 days".
Eitan is still being held by Hamas and is not due to be released in phase one of the ceasefire.
Palestinian security forces prepare for prisoner releasepublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time
Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Ramallah
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Members of Israeli forces stand outside the Israeli military prison, Ofer, ahead of the expected release of Palestinian prisoners
Here in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian security forces are preparing for the prisoner release.
In total, 369 prisoners are expected to be released today.
It includes 29 from the West Bank and seven from Jerusalem and its suburbs - 24 of whom will be deported, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Association.
Some 333 people detained in Gaza since 7 October 2023 will also be freed, according to the group.
The Palestinian prisoners released include some detainees convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis but most were arrested during the war and held without trial or charge.
Israel says hostages have arrivedpublished at 08:52 Greenwich Mean Time
Breaking
The IDF says that the three hostages released this morning have arrived in Israel.
They will first be medically assessed at an Israeli military base before being able to see their families.
Hamas says 'no way' to release hostages except through negotiationspublished at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Reuters
In a statement, Hamas says that today's hostage release shows there is no way to free the hostages held in Gaza "except through negotiations and by adhering to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement".
The group adds: "We say to the whole world: There is no migration except to Jerusalem," a response to US President Donald Trump's suggestion to displace the entire Gaza population to neighbouring countries.
As a reminder, whether hostages would be released today - and the fate of the Gaza ceasefire itself - has been unclear all week.
Earlier in the week, Hamas said it wouldn't release the hostages, claiming Israel had violated the terms of the three-week-old ceasefire deal.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
The hostages on stage in Khan Younis earlier, shortly before being handed over to the Red Cross
Israel says hostages now in Israeli carepublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time
Breaking
The Israel Defense Forces say the three hostages are now being accompanied by Israeli forces.
IDF says hostages are on the waypublished at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Breaking
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the three hostages are in the care of the Red Cross will shortly be transferred to the military unit in Gaza.
Once the hostages are handed over to the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), they will be taken to an Israeli base for a medical assessment.
Another carefully choreographed moment from Hamaspublished at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time
Paul Adams
Reporting from Kfar Saba
Image source, Getty Images
Once again, the whole event is carefully choreographed by Hamas.
The certificates, gift bags, flags and displays of military might. Every detail minutely analysed on Israeli television.
This is the sixth such event, but it remains extremely uncomfortable viewing for Israelis.
The audience here in Kfar Saba is transfixed. They are holding hands, watching the big screen, full of relief but also troubled.
A round of applause just now as the hostages are placed inside Red Cross vehicles. This, for those watching, marks the moment of freedom.
Media caption,
Three Israeli hostages handed to Red Cross in Khan Younis
Excitement in hostage's home town as release unfoldspublished at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time
Paul Adams
Reporting from Kfar Saba
There was excitement in Kfar Saba as the hostages emerged to be handed over to the Red Cross.
One of the posters here, in hostage Yair Horn’s home town, reads: “Yair Horn: How good it is that you’ve come home.
"The Kfar Saba family hugs you and wishes for the speedy return of Eitan and the rest of the hostages.”
Yair’s brother, Eitan, is still being held in Gaza and is not due to be released in phase one of the ceasefire deal.
Handover of hostages to Red Cross now completepublished at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Reuters
The Red Cross vehicles have now departed the square in Khan Younis with the three hostages.
Crowds of people can be seen running near the cars, which are followed by a truck full of hooded Hamas members carrying automatic guns.
We'll let you know as soon as we hear the hostages have been handed to Israeli forces.
Cheers in Hostage Square in Israel as hostages releasedpublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time
Davide Ghiglione
Reporting from Tel Aviv
There are cheers in Hostage Square as people watch a feed of the three hostages - Alexander Troufanov, Yair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen, being handed over to the Red Cross.
Several people are holding up pictures of the hostages that have been freed.
Image source, Reuters
Hostages taken to Red Cross vehiclespublished at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time
Breaking
Image source, Reuters
The three hostages are now being led to the Red Cross vehicles, which will take them to the Israeli army in another location in Gaza.
The military will then take them back to Israel.
Hostages given microphones to address crowds from stagepublished at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Reuters
Alexander Troufanov, Yair Horn and Sagui Dekel-Chen are now on the stage set up by Hamas. They've been handed microphones and are speaking to the crowds which have gathered in Khan Younis.
Three hostages emerge from vehiclepublished at 08:07 Greenwich Mean Time
Breaking
Image source, Reuters
The three hostages to be released today by Hamas - Alexander Troufanov, Yair Horn and Sagui Dekel-Chen - have just emerged from a Hamas vehicle.