Topline
The Israeli military said it has taken custody of the seven hostages freed by Hamas, the first set of the 20 living hostages that are set to be released on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel as part of a ceasefire deal brokered by President Donald Trump who landed in Tel Aviv shortly after the release.
In a statement issued on social media, the Israel Defense Forces said: “Seven returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA forces on their return to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment.”
A short while later the IDF said the hostages cross the border into Israel and were “on their way to the initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will reunite with their families.”
Earlier on Monday, Hamas handed over the seven hostages to the Red Cross, which is facilitating the hostage release and prisoner transfer and the IDF said it is “prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on.”
The seven released hostages have been identified as by the Israeli government as “Alon Ohel, Matan Angrest, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor and Omri Miran,” but no details have been shared about their condition.
Haaretz reported that at least four of seven released hostages spoke to their families via video call shortly before their release.
The IDF previously tweeted that the Red Cross was on its way to “a meeting point in northern Gaza where several hostages will be transferred into their custody.”
In an earlier statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it was engaged in a “multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.” The ICRC’s teams will take the hostages from Hamas’ custody and hand them over to the Israeli authorities. The humanitarian group will carry out a separate operation, taking custody of Palestinian detainees held Israel and transfer them to Gaza and the West Bank.
President Trump arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday just shortly after the Israeli military announced that the hostages had crossed the Israeli border. Just before landing, Air Force One flew over Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, which has been the site of protests and demonstrations by members of the hostages’ families. After his arrival, Trump was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog at the tarmac. Herzog’s office has announced Trump will be given Israel’s highest civilian award, the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, for his efforts to bring the hostages home.
This is a developing story.