Israeli military says bodies of four more hostages are back in Israel with formal identification to take place

Summary

The Israeli military says the bodies of four more deceased hostages have been returned from Gaza
Formal identification of the hostages will now take place, the Israel Defense Forces says
It comes as Israel will reportedly not reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Wednesday and will reduce the flow of aid into the territory
Israeli media and Reuters news agency report the decision came after Hamas returned just four of 28 Israeli hostages' bodies on Monday
The IDF says it has identified the bodies of those four hostages - they are named as Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, Yossi Sharabi and Daniel Peretz
In Gaza, the Palestinian Civil Defence tells the BBC that seven people have been killed by Israeli fire in two separate incidents - Israel's military says it fired at people who had crossed the line where its troops have withdrawn to

Live Reporting

Edited by James Gregory, Emily Atkinson and Ben Hatton

Donald Trump lands in Israelpublished at 07:46 BST 13 October
Breaking

Image source, Reuters
As the release of the Israeli hostages continues, US President Donald Trump has arrived in Israel.
Trump's plane has just landed at Ben Gurion Airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, as he starts his brief trip to the country.
A number of key figures are there to greet him - including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, adviser Jared Kushner and his wife - and Trump's daughter - Ivanka Trump.
Image source, EPA
Seven hostages cross into Israel, military sayspublished at 07:37 BST 13 October
Breaking

Image source, IDF
The Israeli military has confirmed that the seven returning hostages "crossed the border into the State of Israel a short while ago".
It adds that "they are currently on their way to the initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will reunite with their families".
'Welcome Home!' - Hostages and Missing Families Forumpublished at 07:35 BST 13 October

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum - which has long campaigned for the release of all the hostages - posts on social media: "Welcome Home!"
"After 738 agonising days in captivity, Omri Miran, Matan Angrest, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Alon Ohel, and Eitan Mor are returning to us to the embrace of their families who worked tirelessly for their release, to their friends, and to an entire nation that believed and fought for this day to come," it writes.
But it adds: "Our struggle is not over. It will not end until the last hostage is located and returned for proper burial. This is our moral obligation. Only then will the people of Israel be whole."
Family and friends celebrate as they await hostages' returnpublished at 07:31 BST 13 October

The family and friends of Alon Ohel - one of the seven Israeli hostages released from Hamas this morning - are celebrating as they watch broadcasts about his release.
Image source, Reuters
Hostages still in Gaza speak to loved onespublished at 07:30 BST 13 October

As a reminder, another 13 living hostages are expected to be released today, in addition to the seven already freed.
We haven't had confirmation that they've been released yet, but images have been shared showing some of the hostages speaking with their loved ones via video call.
Image caption,
Nimrod Cohen spoke with his mother on the phone
Image caption,
Brothers David and Ariel Kunio also spoke with their loved ones
Israeli troops accompanying hostages on return to Israel - militarypublished at 07:19 BST 13 October

More now from the statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) - it says the seven returning hostages are "currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA [Israel Security Agency] forces on their return to Israel".
Once back in Israel, they will "undergo an initial medical assessment", it adds.
The military adds that it is "prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on".
- Here's what we know about the 20 living hostages expected to be released today
IDF receives first seven hostagespublished at 07:14 BST 13 October
Breaking

We've just had another update from the Israeli military, confirming that the first seven hostages have now been received by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Image source, IDF
Image caption,
Israeli helicopters heading to Re’im base to receive returning hostages
Israel confirms names of first seven hostages releasedpublished at 07:10 BST 13 October

The Israeli foreign ministry has confirmed the names of the first seven hostages released from Hamas this morning:
- Eitan Mor
- Gali Berman
- Ziv Berman
- Omri Miran
- Alon Ohel
- Guy Gilboa-Dalal
- Matan Angrest
It has shared the names in posts on social media, with pictures of the hostages alongside a caption reading: "Welcome home."
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Eitan Mor was kidnapped in the deadly 7 October attack in 2023
Red Cross vehicles seen in crowded Gaza streetspublished at 07:10 BST 13 October
Breaking

We are now seeing more images of Red Cross vehicles in Gaza, surrounded by large crowds.
We do not know who is inside the car - but earlier the Israeli military confirmed that the first seven hostages had been transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza.
Image source, Reuters
Nepali student not included in today's hostage release listpublished at 07:07 BST 13 October

Nepal's ambassador to Israel has told the BBC that Israeli authorities have said there are no signs that Nepali student Bipin Joshi - one of the hostages held by Hamas since October 2023 - has survived.
Dhan Prasad Pandit told BBC Nepali that it's not clear whether Joshi's remains can be retrieved.
Joshi was studying agriculture in Israel under the country's Learn and Earn scheme.
A close relative told the BBC they were informed by Nepali and Israeli officials that Joshi is not in the list of 20 individuals who are alive. He said the family was hoping for a miracle.
What can we expect to happen next?published at 07:01 BST 13 October

The release of Israeli hostages is under way.
The first seven Israeli hostages have been handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross, the Israeli military has confirmed - here's the list of those believed to be part of that group.
They are expected to be flown to Re'im military base in southern Israel.
Altogether, 20 living hostages are expected to be released today - Hamas earlier released a list of those being freed.
Tears and joy in Tel Aviv as hostages' release beginspublished at 06:57 BST 13 October

Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Hamas confirms it's handed over hostages - Reuterspublished at 06:52 BST 13 October
Breaking

Hamas has confirmed it has handed over the first seven hostages to the Red Cross, officials tell Reuters.
Israel confirms handover of seven hostagespublished at 06:50 BST 13 October
Breaking

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
People react in Hostages Square as they await the return of Israeli hostages
We've just had this update from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF):
"According to information provided by the Red Cross, seven hostages have been transferred into their custody, and are on their way to IDF and ISA [Israel Security Agency] forces in the Gaza Strip.
"The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on."
Hostage families wait for release of loved onespublished at 06:48 BST 13 October

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Relatives of Israeli hostage Bar Abraham Kupershtein cheer ahead of his expected release
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Family and friends of Israeli hostage Eitan Horn anxiously await his release as they celebrate at home
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Family and friends of hostage Elkana Bohbot react as they wait for the start of the hostage release live stream
Names of seven Israeli hostages reportedly handed over by Hamaspublished at 06:45 BST 13 October
Breaking

We're still waiting for official confirmation from the Israeli military and the ICRC, but Israeli media is widely reporting that these are the seven Israeli hostages who have been handed over by Hamas and are now being transferred by the Red Cross out of Gaza.
- Eitan Mor
- Gali Berman
- Ziv Berman
- Matan Angrest
- Omri Miran
- Alon Ohel
- Guy Gilboa-Dalal
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Gali Berman is an Israeli hostage kidnapped in the deadly 7 October 2023 attack
Huge cheers as news breaks of hostages' releasepublished at 06:42 BST 13 October
Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

There were loud cheers here in Hostages Square as the news broke that the first group of hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza.
Thousands of people are gathered around the big screen here, waving Israeli flags and signs saying "they're coming home".
A clock next to the screen has been keeping count of exactly how long the hostages have been in Gaza. The man next to me tells me he wants it to stop today.
I’ve just been speaking to Galit, who tells me she has been joining the rallies calling for the hostages’ release almost every week for the past two years. She says this a moment of "national unity".
First Israeli hostages transferred to Red Cross - Reuterspublished at 06:31 BST 13 October
Breaking

The first Israeli hostages have now been transferred from Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza, an official involved in the operation tells the Reuters news agency - as reported just minutes ago by Israeli media.
Hostage’s father says son will be handed to IDF in 15 minutes - reportpublished at 06:29 BST 13 October

The father of one hostage, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, tells Israeli outlet Haaretz that his son "was handed over to the Red Cross, and in 15 minutes he is expected to be handed over to the IDF, and then he will arrive here".
"This is a dream come true, we are euphoric, very excited and dying to hug him," Ilan Dalal says.
First hostages handed over to Red Cross - Israeli mediapublished at 06:21 BST 13 October
Breaking

Israeli media reports that the first seven hostages have been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza.
We’re still waiting for confirmation from the ICRC and the Israeli military.