Summary

Watch: Six Israeli hostages freed in Gaza

Live Reporting

Edited by Rorey Bosotti, with Sebastian Usher reporting from Jerusalem

  1. My grandfather died 'without food, without medication' in Gaza

    'That's not the way anyone should die,' says hostage's grandson

    The grandson of Israeli hostage Oded Lifschitz, 84, whose body was returned from Gaza to Israel this week, has spoken to the BBC.

    Daniel Lifschitz criticised Hamas for kidnapping a great-grandfather and holding him in "poor conditions, without food, without medication".

    He described his grandfather as "a warrior of peace" and said "a generation of education" free from Hamas was needed in order to bring peace to the region.

  2. Freed hostage Hisham-al-Sayed seen in new Hamas photo

    Hisham al-Sayed walks with a member of the Red Cross in GazaHandout

    Hisham al-Sayed was released by Hamas today, without a public ceremony

    Hisham al-Sayed, the last of the six hostages freed today, has been seen in a newly released photo from Reuters, taken by Hamas's Military Wing.

    Al-Sayed, who is from the Arab Israeli Bedouin community in Israel, had been held in captivity since 2015.

    Unlike all the other hostage handovers that Hamas has so far conducted, he was handed over to the Red Cross without a public ceremony in Gaza City.

    Hamas has not explained why.

  3. Hostage Tal Shoham reunited with family - IDF

    Hostage Tal Shoham sits on a sofa with his family. There are two young children and three adults sat with him, all smiling at the camera.IDF

    Hostage Tal Shoham has been reunited with his family in Israel after been released by Hamas earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says.

    The 40-year-old was taken by Hamas from the Kibbutz Be'eri on 7 October 2023 with his wife and their two children, who were released 50 days later.

  4. Red Cross vehicles wait outside Ofer Prison

    Members and vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been seen outside the Israeli prison of Ofer in the West Bank today.

    We're expecting Israel to release 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees - which is part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas - according to the Palestinian prisoners' media office.

    Here's what we've been seeing outside Ofer Prison today:

    International Committee of the Red Cross vehicles outside Ofer Prison. It is a white coach and white car with Red Cross icon to the side and front parked to the left of the building, other cars parked inside the courtyard to the left of the frameReuters
    An aerial photo of Ofer Prison. It shows military vehicles, walls, and high fences.Reuters
    Two members of the International Committee of the Red Cross walk outside Ofer Prison. A woman is walking ahead in a black winter jacket and red cross white vest on; a man is behind her in a black puffer jacket and matching vest, a Red Cross white car behind himReuters

  5. Largest release of prisoners since ceasefire expected

    Sebastian Usher
    Middle East analyst, in Jerusalem

    Today more than 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are due to be released from Israeli jails.

    It's the largest release in one go since the ceasefire began, in part because there were no Palestinians released during Thursday's handover of the dead hostages.

    We're going to see around 400 prisoners who have been detained by Israel since 7 October. There was a great upsurge in the number of Palestinians taken by Israel after 7 October.

    There will also be more than 100 who were sentenced to either long or life sentences for the most serious offences, including the killing of Israelis.

    This would include the longest-serving of those prisoners, Nael Barghouti, who has spent 45 years in jail. He was originally jailed in 1978 for killing an Israeli bus driver.

  6. Hostage Omer Wenkert reunites with family in Israel

    The Israel Defense Forces released a picture of hostage Omer Wenkert, who was released by Hamas earlier today.

    He has been reunited with his family at the initial reception point in Israel.

    Omer Wenkert hugs two members of his family insider a white-walled room, a dark couch and a grey mini fridge in the backgroundIDF

  7. Family members waiting at Israeli hospital for sixth hostage

    We can bring you a bit more on Hisham al-Sayed, who was handed over to the Red Cross in a private exchange in Gaza City earlier.

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says he's being accompanied by medical officials and members of its human resources department.

    "He will undergo an initial medical evaluation and meet with his family. IDF representatives accompany the other family members waiting at the hospital and provide them with regular updates," the IDF says in a post on X.

    We have not yet seen any video or pictures of al-Sayed since his release.

  8. 'Long-awaited moment has arrived,' hostage's family says

    Three people standing on the back of a white car wave an Israeli flag (white background with a blue star of David in the centre, one blue stripe at the top, one matching at the bottom) as a car convoy drives past them. A green field with shrubbery visible to the left of the frameReuters

    People cheer as Hisham al-Sayed is driven to an Israeli military base following his release

    We've just seen a statement from the family of Hisham al-Sayed, the sixth hostage released today.

    "The al-Sayed family is moved by Hisham's return home. After nearly a decade of fighting for Hisham's return, the long-awaited moment has arrived," a statement posted by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum reads.

    "During these days, we need privacy for Hisham and the entire family so we can begin to care for Hisham and ourselves."

    Al-Sayed, whose release was conducted in private, is from the Arab Israeli Bedouin community in Israel and was seized in 2015 after crossing into Gaza on his own.

  9. Watch: Key moments as six Israeli hostages released by Hamas

    Watch: Six Israeli hostages released in Gaza

    Six Israeli hostages are now back in Israel after being handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza.

    Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham were freed by Hamas on Saturday morning, in a highly choreographed event in Rafah in southern Gaza.

    Hours later, in Nuseirat in central Gaza, three men - Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert - were handed over amid similar scenes.

    Hisham al-Sayed, the last of the six hostages freed today, was released without a public ceremony shortly before 13:00 GMT (15:00 local time).

  10. The latest on today's hostage-for-prisoner exchange in Gaza

    Aerial view of prisoner exchange in Gaza. To the centre left are four Red Cross white cars with a red cross visible at the top. At the centre, is a purple stage where the exchange was filmed, more white cars parked to the top right of the image. Large crowds surround the main sceneReuters

    All six Israeli hostages due to be released today as part of a hostage-for-prisoner swap are now back on Israeli soil.

    Here's how the day's events have unfolded so far:

    • Shortly before 10am local time (08:00 GMT) in Gaza, two Israeli hostages - Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39 - were released during staged event in Rafah
    • And just after 12.30pm local time (10:30 GMT), three more hostages - Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23 - were released in similar conditions, flanked by armed and masked Hamas members
    • The sixth and final hostage - Hisham al-Sayed - was handed over to the Red Cross in a private exchange in Gaza City and is now back in Israel, the IDF confirms
    • Crowds have been gathering outside Ofer prison, in the West Bank, where hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are due to be released
    • Of the 602 prisoners to be released, 50 are serving life sentences and 60 have long sentences, according to Palestinian authorities
    • It added that 445 people detained in Gaza after 7 October 2023 will also be released
    • The release of hostages and prisoners today is part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal - which started on 19 January - between Israel and Hamas, with negotiations on the second phase yet to begin

    Stay with us as we continue to bring you the latest updates.

  11. Sixth hostage handed to military and back in Israel, IDF says
    Breaking

    The sixth hostage to be released today, Hisham al-Sayed, has been received by the Israeli military, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says.

    He has also now "crossed the border into Israeli territory", the IDF says.

    Unlike the other five hostages released this morning, who were freed in a highly-orchestrated public ceremony, Hisham al-Sayed's release was conducted in private.

  12. The expected release of 602 Palestinian prisoners - explained

    We can bring you some more now on today's expected release of 602 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

    The freeing of the latest group of prisoners is part of the seventh batch of the prisoner exchange deal and ceasefire's first phase in Gaza.

    The BBC understands that Saturday's release includes 50 prisoners serving life sentences, 60 prisoners with high sentences, and 47 prisoners who were re-arrested after the 2011 Shalit Deal, according to a Palestinian prisoners’ media office statement on Friday.

    The office also said that 445 detainees from Gaza, who were arrested after 7 October, 2023, will be among those released.

    • For context: The Shalit Deal, announced in 2011, was a deal to free captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

  13. In pictures: Freed hostage Avera Mengistu reunites with family

    Avera Mengistu, who entered Gaza around a decade ago and was held there since, reacts during the reunion with his family, after he was released as part of hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, at Ichilov Hospital, in Tel Aviv, Israel February 22, 202GPO/Reuters

    We're now seeing photos of Avera Mengistu, one of the two hostages freed earlier this morning, reuniting with his family at the initial reception point in Israel shortly after his release.

    Ethiopian-Israeli Mengistu, who was captured by Hamas in 2014, is embraced by his siblings after being held in Gaza for more than decade.

    Avera Mengistu hugs his brother, who is smiling, at the initial reception point.IDF
    Avera Mengistu hugs his sister at the initial reception point.IDF
  14. Analysis

    Hisham al-Sayed is the first Arab Israeli to be freed

    Sebastian Usher
    Middle East analyst, in Jerusalem

    The release of Israeli hostages in Gaza has for the first time been done in three different locations in one day.

    The final handover has been of Hisham al-Sayed, who is from the Arab Israeli Bedouin community in Israel.

    He's been held in captivity by Hamas since he crossed over by himself into the Palestinian enclave in 2015.

    Unlike all the other hostage handovers that Hamas has so far conducted in highly stage-managed events, Hisham al-Sayed was handed over to the Red Cross without a public ceremony in Gaza City.

    Hamas has not explained why.

    But he is the first Arab Israeli to be freed.

    The Israeli media is reporting that his release was carried out in private 'out of respect' for the Arab community in Israel to which he belongs.

  15. Sixth hostage handed over to Red Cross
    Breaking

    The sixth hostage has now been handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have said.

    Hisham al-Sayed was handed over by Hamas in Gaza City, according to the Times of Israel.

    The Red Cross is now bringing Hisham al-Sayed to IDF and Shin Bet security service forces inside Gaza, to then be escorted out of the Strip, according to military sources who spoke with the newspaper.

  16. I'm picturing my son's release every second of the day - hostage's mother

    The mother of an American-Israeli hostage says she pictures her son's release "every second of the day".

    Yael Alexander is the mother of Edan Alexander, who was captured by Hamas on 7 October 2023 when he was 19 years old.

    She says her "beautiful boy" is not expected to be released until phase two of the ceasefire agreement and talks on this stage have not begun yet.

    Yael Alexander, mother of American-Israeli hostage, Edna Alexander, pictured behind her on missing billboard

    Yael Alexander said her son, Edan, was not expected to be released until phase two of the ceasefire agreement

    Speaking to the BBC at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Yael Alexander described how it felt to see this morning's hostages released: "I'm hopeful, to see the hostages on their feet - it's amazing."

    She shared that Edan who is an American citizen, has two younger siblings waiting for his release back in the US where they live in New Jersey.

    "They're just wishing that their brother will come back home."

    Yael says she has given up work to lobby for her sons release to officials in Washington DC and returns to Tel Aviv regularly week to connect with other hostage families, saying "we're all one big family now".

    She told the BBC that seeing the hostages released gives her renewed hope for the return of her son.

  17. 'We can hug him again,' says family of freed hostage

    As we've reported, Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov is now back in Israel, along with four others who were held in Gaza.

    We've just seen a statement from his family, which was posted on X by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

    "Our Omeriko is home after 505 days of suffering and nightmare. Our child, our brother, who became a child of the entire state of Israel since 7 October, has returned home despite medical difficulties," it reads.

    "We still don't know everything - the horror stories will only be revealed with time. But now, we can hug him again."

  18. In pictures: Celebrations in Israel as hostages return

    Israeli hostage Tal Shoham waves to his family and friends upon arrival by military helicopter at Petah Tikva hospital of Beilinson, IsraelEPA

    The moment freed hostage Tal Shoham arrived at Petah Tikva hospital in Israel

    Five of the six hostages held by Hamas have been freed and as we await news of the final hostage - Hisham al-Sayed - who is also expected to be released today, here are some images of the day's events so far.

    Large group of people cheering on a balcony, with champagne bursting from a bottle, yellow balloons, and a poster of Omer Shem TovReuters

    Friends of Omer Shem Tov, 22, celebrated in Tel Aviv after hearing news he had been released by Hamas in Nuseirat in central Gaza

    Friends of Omer Wenkert clapping and cheering. Many are seated and some have the Israeli flag on their legsReuters

    There were also plenty of cheers and smiles as friends of Omer Wenkert, 23, welcomed the news of his release in Nuseirat this morning

  19. Questions remain over Hamas's handling of Shiri Bibas

    Sebastian Usher
    Middle East analyst, in Jerusalem

    As we reported earlier, the family of Shiri Bibas says that last night she was "brought home".

    That came after the remains Hamas handed over in Gaza on Thursday turned out not to be hers.

    By Friday night, Hamas handed over another body that Israel has now identified as hers.

    The incident caused shock and anger in Israel.

    In response, Hamas said there might have been an error, perhaps due - it said - to human remains becoming mixed due to Israeli air strikes.

    That raises the question of why they were then able to provide her genuine remains so swiftly. No explanation of that has yet been given.

    Undated family handout photo issued by the Israeli Embassy in London of Shiri Bibas with her son KfirPA Media

    Shiri Bibas was kidnapped with her two children during the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023

    Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari has dismissed Hamas's claim that Shiri Bibas and her children were killed in an Israeli air strike as lies.

    Hamas was not the Palestinian armed faction that abducted Shiri Bibas or her children, nor is it believed to have held them afterwards.

    That could suggest that Hamas did not have full command of the process of the handover of her body and perhaps didn't make necessary checks.

    The body that was originally handed over is unknown, but it was not that of another hostage, according to Israel.

    There is also the possibility that Hamas did it knowingly but that raises questions over why it would wish to endanger the already fragile ceasefire with such a blatantly provocative act.

  20. Three more hostages arrive back in Israel, says IDF

    Description Families and supporters react as they celebrate the release of Omer Wenkert, a hostage who was held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, on the day of the release of six hostages from captivity in Gaza as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gedera, IsraelReuters

    Family members celebrate as they hear the news of Omer Wenkert's release

    Israeli hostages; Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, and Omer Wenkert are now back in Israel after being released from Gaza, the army has announced.

    "They are currently on their way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will be reunited with members of their families," added the Israeli forces.

    An additional hostage, expected to be Hisham al-Sayed, is also due to be transferred "in the the near future", they said.