Two Israeli and five Thai hostages were freed earlier today by Hamas in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, amid swarming crowds and chaotic scenes, prompting condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

More than 100 Palestinian prisoners have been freed from Israel's Ofer prison, after a delay. They arrived into Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, by bus and were met by a huge crowd who gathered to welcome their release.

An eighth Israeli hostage, Agam Berger, was freed separately in northern Gaza.

These recent releases mean that 15 hostages held by Hamas have been freed since the ceasefire came into effect on 19 January. Eighty-two are still being held.

We're now closing our live coverage, you can still get all the latest updates from our main news story.

Wyre Davies
Reporting from Ramallah

Chaotic but joyous scenes here in Ramallah, all day families have been waiting here to receive their loved one.

Around half of those freed from Israeli prisons today are expected to arrive here tonight.

It has been delayed for several reasons, partly due to the sheer number of people as thousands have been following the buses - impeding their journeys slightly.

I've just seen a wife greeting her husband and two more men have been carried by the crowds as they got off the bus.

Many of the people freed have been in jail for 20 years, some of those convicted of the very serious crimes are not being allowed to return to the occupied Palestinian territories by the Israelis. They are being sent to Egypt, and other neighbouring countries.

But the scenes we have witnessed today, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, will lie difficulty with some of those on the Israeli right.

If you're just joining us, here are the major developments from today:

• 110 Palestinian prisoners have been freed from Israel's Ofer prison, the Hamas-run Prisoners' Media Office confirm
• BBC's Middle East correspondent Wyre Davies says the scenes in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, are "chaotic but joyous" as large crowds have gathered to welcome the released prisoners
• Two of the three Israeli hostages released today - Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses - have reunited with their families, as Yehud's family said in a statement that they are "overwhelmed with emotion"
• Israel briefly delayed the agreed release following chaotic scenes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, when seven hostages - two Israeli and five Thai - were freed
• An eighth hostage - Israeli national Agam Berger - was released separately in Jabalia, northern Gaza
• "People cheered, hugged and cried" as they watched a live stream of hostages being transferred to the Red Cross at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv

Image source, Reuters

We're seeing pictures from near Ramallah now, where Zakaria Zubaidi - the former leader of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin - is one of those arriving on a bus surrounded by a large crowd.

As one of the most high-profile prisoners, the 49-year-old has served time in both Israeli and Palestinian jails for multiple offences - including murder. He said he carried out a shooting attack in 2002 in which six Israelis were killed.

Zubaidi was also in the news in 2021, when he tunnelled out of an Israeli prison before being recaptured after five days.

• For more on Zakaria Zubaidi, BBC's Jon Donnison has this piece.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The family of released hostage Arbel Yehud say their "mission is not yet complete", as they fight to secure the release of other members of their family who are being held hostage in Gaza.

Arbel was released amid chaotic scenes in Khan Younis earlier today, as she was surrounded by armed militants and led through a crowd.

In a statement, Arbel's family urged for the release of all hostages, including Arbel's partner, Ariel, Ariel's brother, and their good friend Sasha - who are yet to be returned to the Nir Oz kibbutz.

In a statement, the family said: "Our mission is not yet complete...we will not rest until all hostages are released. We urge everyone not to let this open door close."

Image source, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters

The first photos have now emerged of two Israeli hostages - Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses - reuniting with their families, after they were freed earlier today.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) quote Moses as saying: "I will do everything in my power to rebuild Nir Oz," referring to the kibbutz in southern Israel attacked by Hamas on 7 October 2023.

Image source, The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters

We've just reported that Hamas has confirmed the release of 110 prisoners from Israel's Ofer prison, as part of the ceasefire deal agreed earlier this month.

The buses with Palestinian prisoners are arriving in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

Ramallah lies just several kilometres north-east from Israel's Ofer prison, where the inmates had been held.

The Hamas-run Prisoners' Media Office confirm that 110 Palestinian prisoners have been freed today, following the release of three Israeli and five Thai hostages.

It is the third release of hostages since the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas began on 19 January.

There are "tight security measures" around the return of Palestinian prisoners to their homes to prevent "celebratory manifestations", says the Hamas-run Prisoners' Media Office.

Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners are arriving in Ramallah, having left Ofer prison earlier.

Remember - you can watch our coverage live at the top of the page.

Buses carrying released Palestinian prisoners have arrived in Beitunia, west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, according to the Hamas-run Prisoners' Media Office.

We'll bring you more updates as they come.

Wyre Davies
Reporting from Ramallah

There are huge cheers in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, as word goes around that buses have left Ofer prison - it will take about one hour to get here.

The Hamas-run Prisoners' Media Office is now reporting that buses with Palestinian prisoners have started moving from Israel's Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has not commented. We'll bring you more details when we get them.

Some 110 people, mostly Palestinians, are due to be released today, according to the Hamas-run Prisoners Media Office.

Of these, 32 were sentenced to life and 48 were serving long sentences. There are 30 children on the list, the youngest are two 15-year-olds. Of the prisoners released, 21 are due to be deported abroad.

Image source, Getty Images

Here is footage from Khan Younis earlier today, when seven hostages - two Israelis and five Thais - were released from more than 15 months' captivity in Gaza:

This still picture - taken at the same place - shows the roads lined with onlookers.

Image source, Reuters

As we reported earlier, Hamas says the Palestinian prisoner release will go ahead at 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT).

The release was delayed by Israel in response to the chaotic scenes in Khan Younis earlier.

Now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says "the mediators delivered a commitment that a safe exit will be guaranteed for our hostages who will be released in the next rounds.

"Israel insists that lessons will be learned and that in the next rounds, there will be extra care in ensuring the safe return of our hostages."

It means we're now expecting the Palestinian prisoner release to begin in less than half an hour.

Image source, IDF

The day began with the release of Israeli hostage Agam Berger, who was freed on her own in Jabalia.

We can now bring you comments from the moment the 20-year-old soldier was reunited with her family.

"It will be OK, it will be OK," her mother Merav says, in footage released by the Israeli military.

"We are here, we are here, and never leaving you ever, forever, a mother's promise."

Berger was later reunited with female soldiers from her unit who were released last week - Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag.

Image source, IDF

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

Image source, Reuters

We've been speaking to a journalist in Gaza who was covering the chaotic hostage handover in Khan Younis earlier.

The release happened near the destroyed house of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last year.

"There was a lot of chaos, there was a lot of pushing," the journalist says. He says people were chanting for Hamas's al-Qassam brigades and for Sinwar.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the "shocking scenes".

"This is additional proof of the inconceivable brutality of the Hamas terrorist organisation," he said - before he delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Image source, Getty Images

Wyre Davies
Reporting from Ramallah

At the municipal centre in Ramallah, among the many families awaiting the release and return of their loved ones from Israeli jails were sisters Raghad Hussain and Hedaya Hussain.

"I’m so tired with being disappointed," said 21-year-old Raghad.

"This is the second time I’ve prepared myself and got dressed especially for my father’s release."

Last week, she was told to get ready only to find out her dad wasn’t, after all, among the first wave of prisoners to be released under the fragile ceasefire agreement.

The two sisters, who look like twins, were dressed in traditional Palestinian clothing from the Nablus area of the occupied West Bank, where the family still lives - although as they waited here in Ramallah they learned the family home had reportedly been raided by Israeli settlers who live nearby.

Raghad wasn’t even born when her father, Hussain Nassar, was detained and jailed in 2003. He’s now 47 years old.

"You don’t know what it’s like to live for so long without your dad," she told me.

"I’ve never touched him before as my mum was pregnant with me when he was taken. This is the first time I will know what it’s like to have a father."

Their father was detained, they said, for being an active fighter during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. But the sisters, like other family members are patient.

As few hours’ delay won’t matter, they say - as long as it happens sometime today.

We've just had this picture from the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv of the released Thai hostages, earlier named as Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao, and Surasak Rumnao.

Image source, Thai embassy in Tel Aviv

As we've reported, Israel has delayed the release of more than 100 prisoners, after the chaotic hostage release earlier.

The Hamas-run Prisoners' Media Office says it will now happen at 17:00 local time - that's 15:00 GMT.

Earlier, Netanyahu's office said the delay would be in place "until the safe exit of our hostages is guaranteed".