ISRAEL – Newly freed Israeli hostages have been photographed hugging one another in joy following their release from 738 days in hellish captivity in Gaza.
Matan Angrest (22), twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman (28), Alon Ohel (24), Eitan Mor (25), Guy Gilboa-Dalal (24) and Omri Miran (48) were the first hostages to be handed over to the Red Cross this morning.
They were whisked away to a military base in Re’im, near Gaza, to be checked over before reuniting with their families.
The 13 remaining living hostages have also been released to the Red Cross at a meeting point in the southern Gaza Strip and are now on their way to Israel.
The bodies of 28 deceased hostages will be handed over later, a Hamas official said.
The historic exchange is part of a Donald Trump-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas that aims to bring an end to the devastating two-year war.
The US president arrived in Israel this morning, where he will soon deliver a historic speech to the Knesset before heading to Egypt for an international peace summit geared towards ending the war in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the president said: “The war is over.
“People are tired of it, it’s been centuries, not just recent” he said. “The ceasefire will hold, we’re going to make sure it holds.”
Families and friends of the hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that their loved ones were being released.
Tens of thousands of Israelis were also watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv.
British-Israeli Emily Damari, freed from captivity last January, was seen watching her best friends Gali and Ziv being released in a private viewing session with close family and friends.
She was sat beside Romi Gonen who was held with her for much of their time in captivity.
Now the loved ones of the remaining 14 are waiting anxiously.
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