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The first seven of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas after more than two years in captivity in Gaza, according to the Israeli military.
The group were handed over to the Red Cross ahead of being reunited with their families by the Israeli military at the Re’im reception point near the Gaza border. They were named by as Matan Engerst, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Alon Ohel, Gali and Zivi Berman, Eitan Mor and Omari Moran.
In a statement the family of Omri Miran, 48, who was abducted in front of his wife and two children on 7 October at the Kibbutz Nahal Oz, said he was finally home.
They said: “After more than 700 long, painful, and agonising days, Omri will finally receive from [his children] Roni and Alma a healing embrace. We want to thank the people of Israel from the bottom of our hearts for standing by us in the darkest hours and on days when this moment seemed like a distant and impossible wish. This moment, today, is not a personal victory but a victory of an entire people.
“We also want to express our deep gratitude to the security forces and the heroic [Israel Defence Force] soldiers. We are at the beginning of a complex and challenging, yet moving, journey of recovery.
“We remain committed to the struggle until the last hostage returns, and until the complete recovery of our beloved country. May Omri’s return mark the beginning of this recovery and the unity of our people.”
Israeli ministers had approved overnight a list of 1,718 Palestinian prisoners set to be released as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.
The release of the bodies of 28 dead Israeli hostages is expected to follow the release of the Palestinians.
An estimated 65,000 people gathered at “hostages square” in Tel Aviv on Monday morning roared their approval as it was announced from a stage that the first seven live hostages had been released to the Red Cross.
Soon after, the crowd erupted again as it was announced that Air Force One carrying Donald Trump was flying over the square as the US president made his way to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem where he is due to give a speech later on Monday.
The crowd chanted their thanks to Trump, who is widely credited as bringing about the return of the missing. Before boarding Air Force One ahead of his visit to Jerusalem where he will address the Knesset later on Monday, the Israeli parliament, Trump declared the war in Gaza “over”.
Trump is expected to meet with families of the hostages and may even join some of those released by Hamas. He will continue to Egypt, where the office of the president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, said he would co-chair a “peace summit” Monday with regional and international leaders.
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, welcomed the release of the first hostages by Hamas and said Israel was awaiting the release of all remaining captives. “With thanks to God we welcome our loved ones. We are waiting for everyone – every last one,” Herzog said.
People have been gathering every day for the last two years at hostages square to show solidarity with the families of those in Hamas captivity following their abduction on 7 October 2023.
Hundreds were there from the early hours of Monday and tens of thousands more joined them as the morning went on where they watched live footage of events from large screens on two sides of the square. Video footage was shown of hostages speaking to their families prior to their release after Hamas permitted them to call their loved ones.
Julie Kupershtein, the mother of hostage Bar Kupershtein, who was working at the Nova music festival as a paramedic when he was taken, spoke to him in a video call. She said: “Seeing my child after two years – everything is fine. Thank you to the soldiers, thank you to everyone.
“We were in the compound, and suddenly I had a conversation, suddenly I saw Bar. I screamed to the sky. Crazy. To see them, these pure, righteous children, alive. I’m shaking all over.”
Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, said: “Today is the first, crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East. Now we must deliver lasting peace and a secure future for the whole region. The UK is providing additional humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and we will lead efforts to accelerate its reconstruction.”
The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, welcomed the release of the first of the hostages and praised Trump’s role in this “crucial milestone towards peace”.
“President Trump made this breakthrough possible,” she wrote.
English (US) ·