Summary

Watch: Six Israeli hostages freed in Gaza

Live Reporting

Edited by Rorey Bosotti, with Sebastian Usher reporting from Jerusalem

  1. Six Israeli hostages released as prisoner release delayed indefinitely

    Omer Shem Tov hugs four family members.IDF

    Hostage Omer Shem Tov was reunited with his family in Israel earlier today

    It's been a day of uncertainty in the Middle East.

    Hostages Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu were released this morning during a staged event in Rafah, and hostages Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert were released in similar conditions in Nuseirat, central Gaza.

    Hisham al-Sayed was the sixth hostage and was handed over to the Red Cross in a private exchange in Gaza City - Hamas has not explained why, but Israeli media reported it was "out of respect" for the Arab community in Israel, to which he belongs.

    All six hostages were later taken to Israel and reunited with their families.

    More than 600 Palestinian prisoners were expected to be released as well.

    Family and friends waited for their release from Ofer Prison in the West Bank, with an 80-year-old mother in Khan Younis, Gaza, telling the AFP news agency that she "can't believe" her son would be free after 33 years in prison.

    By the evening, Hamas accused Israel of violating that agreement after the release was delayed.

    In the early hours of Sunday morning local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the prisoners would not be freed "until the release of the next hostages is guaranteed, and without the degrading ceremonies".

    Hamas is yet to respond to Netanyahu's statement. It's another potentially major setback in the ceasefire process.

    We'll soon be closing our live coverage but you can keep up to date with the latest developments by checking out our other stories.

  2. Palestinian prisoners' release delayed, Netanyahu says

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just announced that the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners which was expected on Saturday is now being delayed.

    In a statement, Netanyahu's office says: "In light of Hamas's repeated violations - including the ceremonies that demean the dignity of our hostages and the cynical use of the hostages for propaganda purposes - it has been decided to delay the release of the terrorists planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages is guaranteed, and without the degrading ceremonies".

  3. The wait for prisoners continues in Ramallah

    People are still waiting for Israel to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners following the handover of six Israeli hostages earlier today.

    Earlier, we reported families of prisoners have been waiting in Khan Younis, Gaza, for their return.

    The Palestinian Information Center - which carries official statements from Hamas - has reported that prisoners are expected to be released after 00:30 local time (22:30 GMT) - the BBC has not been able to verify this statement.

    We can now bring you pictures of people in a culture centre in Ramallah, West Bank, also waiting this evening:

    People sit in chairs and groups and some are standing around, all waitingEPA
    People sit in a room waiting around, many looking at their phones.EPA
    People sit in chairs along a black wall, waiting.EPA

  4. Return all hostages 'immediately or be destroyed' - Marco Rubio warns Hamas

    Marco Rubio looks on. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and he is wearing a black blazer, white shirt, and red tie.Reuters

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hit out at the way Hamas has treated the hostages as he condemns the death of hostages Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir.

    Writing on X that the group's treatment of the hostages "further illustrates their savagery" and is "another reason" why they must release "all the hostages immediately or be destroyed".

    • As a reminder, Hamas says Bibas and her sons were killed during a Israeli bombing in November 2023 but Israel says Ariel and Kfir were killed with "bare hands" while initial analysis of their mother's remains showed no evidence "of injuries caused by bombing"

  5. In pictures: Protesters call for hostage releases to continue

    Protesters have once again taken to the streets in Tel Aviv, calling for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

    As a reminder, the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel includes the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

    Hamas has accused Israel of violating that agreement this evening due to the release of Palestinian prisoners being delayed, according to the Palestinian Information Center - which carries official statements from the group.

    A woman in a crowd of protesters holds up a sign that has the word Revenge crossed out and beneath it written Return all the hostages.Getty Images
    An aerial view of a crowd of protesters stand around a sign laid flat on the floor that says SOS.Getty Images
    A woman in a crowd of protesters holds out a red flare. The crowd is holding signs written in Hebrew.Getty Images

  6. Hamas publishes video of unreleased hostages

    Paul Adams
    BBC diplomatic correspondent

    This evening, Hamas have published an extremely distressing video in which two Israeli hostages not scheduled for release in stage one of the ceasefire deal watch one of today’s handover ceremonies from inside a vehicle and plead with Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to bring them home too.

    The two men, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, are clearly speaking under extreme duress.

    It’s the latest in a long line of propaganda videos in which Hamas attempt to play on the ragged emotions of the Israeli public and ratchet up pressure on Mr Netanyahu.

    At a time when Hamas has complained that Israel is violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement by delaying the release of 602 Palestinian prisoners, the video could simply make matters worse, triggering a fresh wave of public and government revulsion.

  7. Netanyahu speaks with released hostage

    Avera Mengisu looks out of a helicopter window as he's transported to hospital following his release. He's wearing a beige blanket on top of a grey hoodie and has a black woollen cap on.GPO

    The Israeli Prime Minister's Office says Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken to newly-released hostage Avera Mengistu and his family.

    "I am moved and I embrace you. The entire people of Israel is moved along with me and embraces you today," he's reported to have told Mengistu on the Israeli government's website.

    Ethiopian-Israeli Mengistu was captured by Hamas in 2014 and was handed over to the Red Cross alongside Tal Shoham in Rafah, southern Gaza, earlier this morning.

  8. 'If my heart were made of iron, it would have melted and shattered' - prisoner's mother

    The families of Palestinian prisoners due to be released today in exchange for the handover of six Israeli hostages are still waiting in Khan Younis, Gaza, for their return.

    Um Diya al-Agha says she has come to each of the six previous prisoner releases carried out as part of the ceasefire deal, hoping to find her son.

    "Yesterday, I received news that he would be released, but I still can't believe that my son will be free after 33 years", she tells the AFP news agency.

    The 80-year-old Gazan says that "if my heart were made of iron, it would have melted and shattered", adding that she has been "waiting for this moment" every day.

    Um Hassan al-Qatta travelled from Gaza City with the hope that the newly released prisoners might have word on her teenage son who went missing during the war.

    "I don't know if he is alive or dead," she said. "I am happy for the hundreds of prisoners who have been freed, and I hope my son Hassan [...] will be released too."

  9. Hamas says prisoners release delay a 'blatant violation' of ceasefire

    Hamas says Israel has been violating the terms of the ceasefire deal by delaying the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to the Palestinian Information Center - which carries official statements from the group.

    "The occupation’s failure to release the seventh batch of prisoners in the exchange process on the agreed date represents a blatant violation of the agreement," the centre says quoting Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou.

    Al-Qanou also accuses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "procrastination and stalling tactics".

  10. Hostages reunite with family in Israel

    All six hostages released by Hamas earlier today have been reunited with family members, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

    Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham were handed over first to Red Cross officials in Rafah, Gaza. Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert were later freed in Nuseirat, central Gaza. Hostage Hisham al-Sayed was released from Hamas in private.

    Omer Shem Tov hugs two male family members and one female family member. He is smiling.IDF

    "How much I dreamed of you, you have no idea," Omer Shem Tov told his parents - according to the IDF

    Tal Shoham waves to a crowd. He is smiling and wearing a black coat.EPA

    Tal Shoham waved to his family and friends upon arrival by military helicopter at an Israeli hospital

    Omer Wenkert hugs a male family member and a female family member.IDF

    Omer Wenkert reunited with his family at the "initial reception point", the IDF says

    Avera Mengistu hugs two male family members, one of whom is wearing a white jumper and the other is wearing a black coat, and one female family member, who is wearing a grey jumper. Avera Mengistu is wearing a black beanie.GPO / Reuters

    Avera Mengistu was held captive by Hamas for more than 10 years

    Eliya Cohen reads a book with a family member. Both are wearing ear-defender headphones as they sit in a helicopter.IDF

    Eliya Cohen was with his family on an Israeli helicopter earlier today

    Hisham al-Sayed hugs a family member. The family member has a brown scarf round her head. Al-Sayed is wearing a black beanie.Maayan Toaf/GPO

    Hisham al-Sayed was held in captivity since 2015 before his release today

  11. For the hostages' families, agony turned to elation

    Mark Lowen
    Reporting from Tel Aviv

    After the agony of waiting, came the joy of watching - as images of the first of those freed in Gaza were beamed onto a screen on Hostages Square, the crowd here was overwhelmed with relief.

    It was again a PR show by Hamas, as the captives were led on stage beside fighters, blowing kisses to the crowd, before being handed to the Red Cross and taken to Israel.

    Four of the six were seized on 7 October; two others had been held by Hamas for over a decade since they strayed into Gaza, among them Avera Mengistu, whose relative Gili Eliasm spoke of his delight: "We feel like we’re on cloud nine, overwhelmed with happiness - it’s a day of celebration.

    "Now that he is back and will undergo rehabilitation, we will finally have time to reflect and hold accountable those responsible for everything that happened, and for what should have happened."

    As they were reunited with families, filmed by the Israeli military, agony turned to elation. But for others gathered in Tel Aviv, the mood was tempered by the wait for their loved ones.

    More than 60 are still held in Gaza, around half thought to be dead. They’re set to be returned in the second phase of the ceasefire due to start in a week – if Israel and Hamas get to that point.

  12. How many hostages remain in Gaza?

    Today's hostage-for-prisoner swap saw six living hostages held by Hamas returned to Israel - in exchange, more than 600 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released later today.

    This means 63 hostages held by Hamas remain inside Gaza.

    Of those, 36 are believed to be dead and their families have been informed by Israel. That leaves 27 assumed living hostages - although Hamas claims this number is lower.

    For phase one of the ceasefire, it was agreed that Hamas would hand over 33 hostages.

    So far, 25 have been released alive in addition to the four bodies returned earlier this week. Four more hostages who Hamas says are dead are due to be released. This would bring the total to 33.

    Five Thai nationals were released at the end of January under a separate agreement.

    Previously, 109 hostages were returned to Israel in 2023 - the majority during the temporary ceasefire of November 2023.

    The IDF has rescued eight hostages and recovered the remains of 41 others, including three hostages it accidentally killed.

  13. Remains of hostage Shiri Bibas identified - Ministry of Health doctor

    Shiri Bibas holds her baby son Kfir. She is smiling at the camera. She has blue eyes and long brown hair.PA Media

    Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were aged 32, four, and nine months respectively when they were kidnapped during the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023

    We're hearing now from Dr. Chen Kugel, Director of the National Center for Forensic Medicine at the Ministry of Health, who's shared an update on the remains of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas.

    He confirms that "we have identified the remains of Shiri Bibas" after Israel accused Hamas of returning the body of an unidentified woman as part of a handover of dead Israeli hostages on Thursday.

    The group then handed over a second body on Friday.

    Hamas previously said Bibas and her sons, Ariel and Kfir, had been killed in an Israeli air strike in November 2023, but Mizrahi says in a statement that "our examination found no evidence of injuries caused by bombing".

    "This is a heart-breaking day for the families, for us, the medical teams, and for the entire state of Israel, we have witnessed unimaginable depth of cruelty and evil," he says.

  14. The question, as ever, is which way Netanyahu will go

    Mark Lowen
    Reporting from Tel Aviv

    There is fury in Israel after Hamas delivered a body this week that was not that of the hostage Shiri Bibas as they claimed, only to hand over her correct remains a day later.

    That could be the reason behind a delay in the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners due today, which was held up for some hours.

    Among them is Nael Barghouti, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner who has spent forty-five years in jail. On Hostages Square, they’re urging their government to stick to this deal.

    But on the right of Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, there’s pressure to resume the war. The question, as ever, is which way Israel’s Prime Minister will go.

  15. 'It's over', freed hostage Omer Shem Tov says

    Omer Shem Tov is hugged by a male and female family member. All three of them are smiling.Reuters

    Omer Shem Tov, pictured in the centre, was reunited with his family before attending an Israeli hospital following his release

    We're hearing now from freed hostage Omer Shem Tov, who was one of the six hostages released by Hamas earlier today.

    "This is it, we are together, it's over," he says to his family, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

  16. 'We will never forget and never forgive' - Benjamin Netanyahu

    Close up of Benjamin Netanyahu in dark blue-grey suit, white shirt and blue tie standing at lectern delivering speech into two mics. The US and Israeli flags are behind him, on his right lapel is a yellow ribbon pin, a Israeli flag pin on his left lapelEPA

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the return of the six hostages today is a "moment of joy" but the country is "broken" over the "brutal murder" of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas and her two sons.

    "Following our firm insistence and unequivocal demand for the immediate return of Shiri, we succeeded in bringing her back last night for burial in Israel," he says.

    "The heart of the nation is broken by the abduction and brutal murder of Shiri and her children – Ariel and Kfir. We share in the deep sorrow of the Bibas family and embrace them warmly. We will never forget and never forgive."

    Hamas previously claimed the boys and Shiri had been killed in an IDF air strike in November 2023. The BBC has not been able to independently verify this.

    In a series of posts on X, Netanyahu adds: "The Government of Israel is committed to continue acting decisively in order to bring all of our hostages back home - the living to their families, and the deceased to proper burial in their country."

    • As we've been reporting, Bibas's family confirmed that her body was handed over by Hamas on Friday after Israel initially said the remains returned on Thursday alongside Ariel and Kfir's belonged to an unidentified woman

  17. Hostages released as Palestinian prisoners wait to be freed - how did we get here?

    Sebastian Usher
    Middle East analyst, in Jerusalem

    The six Israeli hostages were released in three locations across Gaza.

    First in the south in Rafah, Tal Shoham - who was abducted in the Hamas-led attack in 2023 - was freed, along with Avera Mengistu, who'd been held captive by Hamas for more than 10 years.

    Later in the morning, three more hostages, who'd all be kidnapped at the Nova music festival on 7 October- Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert - were freed.

    Both handovers were conducted with the stage managed show of force by Hamas that's become familiar - as Israelis once again watched on a big screen in a cold and rainy Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

    The sixth hostage, Hisham al-Sayed, was, however released in private. Hamas gave no reason but it may be due to the fact that he belongs to the Arab Israeli Bedouin community.

    Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are due to be freed in exchange, but that has so far been delayed.

  18. Long-serving inmates and never charged Palestinians set to be released

    Among the 602 Palestinian prisoners due to be released today is Nael Barghouti, who spent 45 years in jail overall after he was first arrested for attacking the Israeli military in 1978.

    After spending 33 years in prison, he was one of 1,000 prisoners released in 2011 in exchange for the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. He was then re-arrested in 2014 and in 2017. He will be deported to another country after today's release.

    Alaa Bazian, who has been in jail for 42 years, and Samer Al-Mahroom, who has served 38 years, will also be released today.

    Ammar Al-Zaben, a leader in Hamas’ military wing Al-Qassam Brigades, who was handed 27 life terms, is also expected to be released.

    He was part of a Hamas cell that carried out five suicide bombings in 1997, including three attacks in Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market which killed more than twenty Israelis and injured 300 others.

    The majority of Palestinians to be released today - about 400 - were detained without charge after the 7 October attacks.

  19. Delays reported for release of more than 600 Palestinians

    Red Cross white car entering Ofer Prison in the West Bank. The prison's main stone building is in the background, with an shut iron gate, barbed wire lining the top of external wallsEPA

    The release of 602 Palestinian prisoners has been delayed, according to the Palestinian Information Center - which carries official Hamas statements.

    The news comes after the release of six Israeli hostages in Gaza during two public events - in Rafah and Nuseirat - and one private handover. All six men are now back in Israel.

    We'll update you as soon as we get more information about the Palestinians due to be freed today and how long the delay might be.

    • As a reminder, the hostage-for-prisoner exchanges are part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that started on 19 January

  20. Hostage Hisham al-Sayed accompanied to hospital by family - IDF

    More now on hostage Hisham al-Sayed, who was released earlier today by Hamas during a private handover after being held in captivity since 2015.

    The IDF says in a post on X that he's "now taking off" in a helicopter and is being accompanied to hospital by his family.

    It adds that he will "meet the rest of his family" there and will receive medical treatment.