The president of Israel says he takes comfort in seeing the release of hostages this morning.

"They return from the depths of hell to begin the process of healing and recovery alongside their loving families, who fought with all their strength for them," Isaac Herzog says in a post on X, external, adding that the "immediate return" of all hostages is vital.

"We must do everything possible to bring back all the hostages from captivity in Gaza—until the very last one!"

He also expressed his "deep sorrow" over Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, whose family said her body was handed over by Hamas on Friday after Israel said the remains returned on Thursday were those of an unidentified woman.

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting, 602 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be released later today, according to the Palestinian prisoners' media office.

This is part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which stipulates that a total of 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees being held in Israeli prisons would be released in return for 33 Israeli hostages.

More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed since the first phase of the three-phase deal began on 19 January.

Last week, Israel freed 369 Palestinian prisoners - 36 serving life sentences, and 333 detained without charge in Gaza, according to the Palestinian prisoners' media office.

Most were taken to Gaza, some were released in the West Bank, and the majority of the 36 serving life sentences were reportedly deported to Egypt.

Since the 7 October attack carried out by Hamas in 2023, the number of Palestinian detainees has doubled to around 10,000.

We're now hearing that three hostages who were released by Hamas a little while ago have been transferred to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and intelligence services.

"The three returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment," a joint statement reads.

The IDF adds it's prepared to receive another hostage who is due to be transferred to the Red Cross "in the near future".

Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) have condemned Hamas for the separate release of Bedouin-Israeli hostage, Hisham al-Sayed.

He was expected to be released by Hamas with three other hostages in Nuseirat earlier but a sudden change of plan means he will be released "without ceremony".

In a statement, the IDF said: "Hamas won’t hold their 'ceremony' for hostage Hisham al-Sayed in respect for the Bedouin-Israeli community by not exposing him to this dehumanising and traumatic experience".

Hisham al-Sayed has been held in Gaza since 2015.

The IDF asked "where was this 'respect' for the Arab-Israeli community when they held Hisham hostage for over a decade?"

Image source, Reuters

Following the release of three more hostages by Hamas, we're now hearing an update about Avera Mengistu, one of the two hostages freed earlier this morning.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says that "accompanied by members of his family, he is currently making his way on an Israeli Air Force helicopter to the hospital, where he will be reunited with other members of his family and will receive medical treatment".

The three latest hostages to be released have now been handed over to Red Cross officials and are making their way to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Moments earlier, the men were paraded on stage and held certificates while flanked by armed and masked Hamas members.

The IDF has confirmed the hostages are en route to meet them and that another hostage, Hisham al-Sayed, is due to be released shortly.

Davide Ghiglione
reporting from Tel Aviv

Cheers went up in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square as people watched a live feed of the hostages being taken out of Hamas vans and handed over to the Red Cross.

Image source, Reuters

Eliya Cohen has just been led on to the stage as part of the next release by Hamas.

He was followed by Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert, who have also just been handed over to the Red Cross.

This time the location of the handover is Nuseirat, which is in the centre of the Gaza Strip.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, BBC/Pool

We've been seeing some movement in Nuseirat, Gaza, where the second round of today's hostage releases is expected to happen any moment now.

A stage has been prepared and there appears to be someone sat on it with paperwork.

There's been a bit of a delay but the Red Cross vehicles are present and we're expecting to see the hostages released by Hamas any minute now.

We've just heard an update from Israeli local media that three hostages are now going to be released at Nuseirat during this handover, instead of four as previously thought.

The fourth hostage that was due to be released, Hisham al-Sayed, will now be freed without a public ceremony later.

Red Cross vehicles are present in Nuseirat but there appears to be a bit of a delay with the handover. We'll bring you the latest as we get it.

Red Cross vehicles have now arrived in a second location in Gaza, in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, for the second of today's hostage release handovers.

The next four Israeli hostages expected to be released by Hamas are Hisham al-Sayed, who was taken in 2015 after crossing into Gaza on his own, Omer Shem Tov, 22, Eliya Cohen, 27, and Omer Wenkert, 23, who were each taken from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023.

Image source, BBC/POOL

We've just heard from the cousin of Tsachi Idan, a hostage who is still being held in Gaza.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Adam Ma'anit, who works for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, says Hamas's staged released of hostages is a "sadistic spectacle".

"It’s distressing to see [hostages] being paraded in such a degrading and humiliating way," he says.

He adds that he's hoping for the return of Idan next week as he's among a list of hostages set to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

"We are expecting and hoping for him to be returned to us. Unfortunately, Hamas have indicated that the remaining hostages are likely to be dead, but we are not trusting Hamas," he says.

Image source, FAMILY HANDOUT

Image source, Reuters

The family of Tal Shoham has released a statement following his release in Rafah this morning, describing it as "an unforgettable moment, where all emotions mix rapidly", adding "Our Tal is with us".

"We thank the entire people of Israel for being with us throughout the long days of pain and suffering," the family says.

"In this significant moment in our lives, our only request is to seize the opportunity that has arisen and bring about a deal that will return fathers to their children - children who need their fathers - and bring all the hostages home: the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for eternal rest.

“There is a window of opportunity - we must not miss it,” the statement adds.

Shoham is one of the six hostages to be released today, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

We've just heard from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that the two freed hostages, Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham, have arrived at a reception point in southern Israel.

Shoham's wife and children, who were also hostages and freed in November 2023, will meet him now at the initial reception point.

The IDF says the hostages will undergo an initial medical assessment and be reunited with their families, who are waiting at a hospital.

Image source, EPA

It has just gone 11am in Israel and Gaza. About an hour ago, the first two hostages to be released today by Hamas were handed over in Rafah, southern Gaza, to the Red Cross to be taken to Israel.

Here's a quick summary of what's been happening so far this morning:

• In Tel Aviv, crowds cheered as Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham were freed in a highly-choreographed handover to the Red Cross
• They are now back in Israel, the IDF says
• Four more Israeli hostages are expected to be released today in Nuseirat, central Gaza, in a short while
• Israel is also set to release 602 Palestinian prisoners today as the first phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas - which came into effect on 19 January - nears to a close
• These latest developments come after Israel said a body returned by Hamas earlier this week was not that of Shiri Bibas, as they had initially claimed. Since then, Shiri's family have said another body handed over by Hamas on Friday is hers

We'll bring you the latest updates and analysis from our writers in London, and correspondents across the Middle East, right here as it happens.

Image source, Reuters

We've just had a statement from the family of released hostage Avera Mengistu, via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

"Our family has endured 10 years and five months of unimaginable suffering. During this time, there have been continuous efforts to secure his return, with prayers and pleas, some silent, that remained unanswered until today," the family says.

"In these moments, we gather in anxious anticipation of the return of our beloved son, brother, and uncle Avera.

"We ask that these moments be respected, and that we be granted the peace and rest we so desperately need," the family adds.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

Image source, Reuters

It begins with a phone call with a location.

Once the details are received, a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sets off in vehicles marked with the humanitarian organisation's logo to pick up the hostages in Gaza.

Israeli military and medical personnel are also assembled at several different locations, waiting to bring them home.

"This is more than just a drive," says ICRC spokesperson Sarah Davies.

"These operations may seem simple, but in fact they are very complex and require rigorous security measures to minimise the risks to those involved."

The ICRC, which acts as a neutral intermediary in the handover, assembles a team of specialists, some of whom have been involved in similar operations in the past - though this is more challenging than most.

There are some details that the group cannot speak about publicly because of concerns it could compromise the security of the operation.

Davies says they have mapped out alternative routes to get to different locations in Gaza, knowing that the "safest route can change" at any time.

Among their biggest concerns are the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance, destroyed and damaged infrastructure, and large crowds with "heightened emotions".

• Read more about how the ICRC, Israel and Hamas coordinate the hostage release

The two freed hostages have crossed into Israel, the Israeli military and intelligence services have said.

"They are currently on their way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will be reunited with members of their families," a joint statement reads.

"The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are due to be transferred to the Red Cross in the near future," it adds, ahead of today's expected release of four more hostages.

Video footage shows how the release of Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu unfolded a short while ago.

Both hostages were walked by Hamas from vehicles towards a stage, in highly choreographed scenes that have become familiar in recent weeks, before being taken to nearby Red Cross cars.

You can see how it happened in this short clip:

Image source, Reuters

We've just been hearing that the two hostages just released in Rafah, Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham, have now been handed to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) by the Red Cross.

"The two returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA (Israel Security Agency) forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment," a statement from the IDF says.

"The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are due to be transferred to the Red Cross in the near future," it adds.

As a reminder, there are four other hostages expected to be released today.

Image source, Reuters