Israeli hostages freed including girl, 2, and 85-year-old woman - live updates

Recap of today's events

Hamas released an initial 24 hostages who have been held in Gaza for 48 days as part of a four-day truce, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners held in Ofer military facility on the West Bank.

Those released by the militant group included 13 Israelis - the youngest just two years old - who were handed over to the Red Cross and transported to hospitals in Israel for medical assessment. A further 12 Thai nationals were also freed as part of the deal brokered by Qatar.

Among those released from Gaza was 76-year-old Hannah Katzir, who Palestinian Islamic Jihad had previously said had been killed.

Huge crowds of Palestinians gathered on the West Bank to welcome the freed prisoners - some of whom have been locked up for years - with Hamas flags flown.

The militant group has agreed to release a total of 50 hostages, while Israel is set to free 150 Palestinians from a list of 300 over the ceasefire period.

Senior adviser to Israel's PM Mark Regev said of the deal tonight: "The ball is in Hamas' court. We are ready to renew the military operation at the end of four days but if Hamas wants the extension of the humanitarian pause - they know exactly what they need to do."

US President Joe Biden said the truce deal was reached through “extensive US diplomacy”, including “numerous calls” he said he made to leaders across the region.

He reiterated his sympathy for the Israeli and Palestinian people caught up in the conflict but hammered home his oppostion to Hamas, adding: “I don’t trust Hamas to do anything right. I only trust Hamas to respond to pressure.”

(Getty Images)

Al-Qassam Brigades leading hostages over to officials in Gaza

A video released by the Hamas Media Office shows members of its Al-Qassam Brigades leading hostages over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza ahead of their transfer to Israel today.

Members of its Al-Qassam Brigades lead hostages over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza (HAMAS MEDIA OFFICE/AFP via Getty)

Women light shabbat candles at 'The Hostages and Missing Square' in Tel Aviv

Women light shabbat candles and pray outside The Museum of Modern Art known as the 'The Hostages and Missing Square' in Tel Aviv, Israel, today.

Arms sales to Israel: Top judges urge UK to halt weapons trade

Women light shabbat candles and pray outside The Museum of Modern Art known as the 'The Hostages and Missing Square' (Getty Images)

Hospital chief says four women and four children undergoing assessment

Dr Efrat Bron-Harlev, CEO Schneider Children's Medical Centre of Israel, said four women and four children freed from Gaza have been brought to the hospital.

She said their "physical condition is good" and they are currently undergoing medical and psychological assessment in a "private" area of the hospital.

She added: "This is a national mission and we are just extremely proud to have the privilege to treat them. Our hearts are with the other captives trapped in Gaza....We hope they return in a whole and healthy way."

Israeli ministry of health briefing at Schneider medical centre

Israel's ministry of health has just held a news conference at the Schneider medical centre, where eight of the freed hostages were transported earlier tonight.

A spokesperson said: "We all anxiously awaited their return and are elated to see the day that they have come home to us."

Preparations for their return began at the start of the war at six Israeli hospitals, he said.

The hostages were reunited with their families at Schneider medical centre, he added.

"This is the first time that the state of Israel has had to prepare for the arrival of so many hostages."

Hostages 'don't know yet their family members were murdered'

A relative of three of the hostages being released, has spoken out saying it's unclear whether his family are aware yet that some of their loved ones were murdered in the October 7 violence as he claimed "it's not over yet - it's just beginning".

Itay Raviv told Sky News: "I hope today we can be slowly gradually going back to reality. This horrific reality. Another family member, they don't know it yet, he was murdered [...] I don't know if they know it , but they're probably going to hear the news now. So it's just another glimpse of the horrific reality we're living at the moment."

Mr Raviv said pictures of his family taken hostage didn't "look like it was the same people". "We don't know what is the condition of the rest of the hostages," he added. "We really need all of them back home as soon as possible to make sure they're safe."

"We are happy, but it's not over yet. It's just the beginning."

Itay Raviv, who is a relative of three released hostages, says he has an uncle who is "still in the hands of Hamas".https://t.co/PdiSTBMqxC

Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/GoSD3bHSh5

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 24, 2023

Israel receives list of captives set to be released on Saturday

The government has received the list of hostages to be released tomorrow (Saturday), Israel's Army radio and broadcaster is reporting.

They did not immediately say how many names were on it. Some 50 captives are expected to be released during the four-day truce deal reached with Hamas.

Israeli hostages have arrived at hospital

Freed Israeli hostages have arrived at hospitals after being freed from Gaza by Hamas.

An Israeli helicopter with released hostages lands at Tel Aviv's Schneider medical centre (AFP via Getty Images)

Palestinian prisoners were transported by coach

Freed Palestinian prisoners were brought from the Ofer military prison via a coach to an ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross).

Friends and relatives got emotional as they were reunited.

A crowd gathered outside an ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners (ALAA BADARNEH/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Palestinian prisoners met by huge crowds on West Bank

Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli Ofer military prison were met by huge crowds in the town of Beitonia near Ramallah, on the West Bank.

Palestinian prisoners - wearing grey jumpers - that were released from the Israeli Ofer military facility (AFP via Getty Images)

Everything we know about the 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas in Gaza

Details about the Israeli hostages freed have emerged.

The first Israeli hostages to be released from Gaza happened on Friday afternoon Tel Aviv and Hamas began a four-day truce after coming to a landmark agreement.

The deal, brokered by the state of Qatar, came into force today at 5am GMT - a day later than originally scheduled. Under the agreement, 13 Israeli hostages have now been released by the militant group and transferred to Egypt by the Red Cross.

Click here to read the full story

Israeli hostages released on November 24

Palestinian prisoner of eight years welcomed home after release

Marah Bakir, a former Palestinian prisoner who was released by the Israeli authorities, was today welcomed at her family house in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina.

Her release came on the first day of the four-day cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas during which the Gaza militants have pledged to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

She had been detained in an Israeli prison for eight years.

Marah Bakr (L), Palestinian detained in Israeli prison for 8 years, is welcomed by her family after releasing to be released as part of the 4-day humanitarian pause (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Biden: 'I don’t trust Hamas to do anything right'

“Today, we can also be thankful for families being reunited with loved ones who have been held hostage for nearly 50 days,” the US president Joe Biden told reporters tonight.

He said the deal was reached through “extensive US diplomacy”, including “numerous calls” he said he made to leaders across the region.

“This deal also is structured to allow a pause to continue” to allow more captives to be released. “That’s our goal,” he said.

“It’s only a start, but so far it’s gone well.”

He went on to say: “In the next hour or so we’ll know what the second wave of releases are."

“We don’t know when the first American hostages will be released. We don’t know their conditions. We don’t know the specific hostages who will be released.

“I’ve encouraged the prime minister [Netanyahu] to focus on trying to reduce the number of casualties while he is attempting to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate objective. That’s a difficult task and I don’t know how long it will take.

“I don’t trust Hamas to do anything right. I only trust Hamas to respond to pressure.”

US President Joe Biden speaks about the release of hostages from Gaza (AFP via Getty Images)

Biden set to make statement

US President Joe Biden is set to make a statement amid the ceasefire and hostage release.

Breakdown of hostages released by Hamas and Israel

Hamas has released 24 hostages who had been held captive in the Gaza Strip for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day ceasefire deal.

The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari holds news conference

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari is holding a news conference.

All of the released hostages have undergone initial medical assessments and there is no risk posed to their lives, he says.

They are now in movement to complete further medical examination, before they are flown to meet their families at hospitals, says Mr Hagari.

"We mustn't forget this evening that each and every one of those returning home tonight still has a family member who has been murdered or has been held captive in Gaza."

He continues: "The sight of the hostages returning home and crossing into Israel gave us a great sense of relief and yet our heart goes out to all the other hostages still kept in Gaza."

Turning to the truce, he says during the ceasefire the IDF will complete its preparation and reorganisation for the "next stage".

"During the ceasefire we must all remain alert, we must not become complacent."

Cameron says it's a 'huge relief to see hostages returned'

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said: “It is a huge relief to see hostages returned today.”

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “My thoughts are with all of those families who have been going through unimaginable trauma, especially those still waiting for their loved ones to come home.”

Israel publishes list of 300 Palestinian prisoners from which 150 will be released

Israel published a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners from which the 150 to be released over the four-day ceasefire will be drawn to accommodate objections to particular individuals.

• Children: 124 prisoners were aged 17 or under, 11 of whom were 14 or 15
• Females: They make up 33 of the prisoners listed, with the youngest among them a 15-year-old girl
• Oldest: A 59-year-old male
• Attempted murder: The alleged offence was listed besides the names of 117 people
• Throwing stones: 74 people were accused of this offence
• Hamas: There were 49 people on the list accused of being associated with the group

Palestinian official says only 33 of 39 prisoners released

Qatar said 39 women and children detained in Israeli jails had been released, in exchange for 13 Hamas-held hostages.

But a Palestinian official has now told the Associated Press that in fact 33 Palestinians have been freed.

Regev says 'ball is in Hamas' court - they know exactly what they need to do'

Senior adviser to Israel's PM Mark Regev said while it is pleasing to see 13 Israelis released from Hamas captivity in Gaza but "we can only guess what they went through".

Speaking to Sky News, he referred to the hostages' ages - the youngest just two, along with several elderly women. Mr Regev then hit out at claims made by Hamas that they only hit "military targets". He said: "So here we have a two-year-old, a four-year-old, a five-year-old, a nine-year-old released by Hamas. What does that say about the way we should understand Hamas' public statements?"

He went on to say, "Let's be clear, we wouldn't have had this release unless Hamas felt it had to do so. And Hamas was under amazing pressure and that pressure was ultimately from the military strikes by the IDF against its military machine and our ability to destroy its underground network of tunnels and eliminate its senior command.

"I think there's an important lesson, Hamas are not suddenly humanitarians, they are only releasing hostages because they feel compelled to do so. And that's why we'll continue the operation if they cease releasing hostages. Over four days they've committed to release 50. We've had 13 today, that's good, but they're still committed to releasing another 37. And if they want to extend this humanitarian cause, they can release more hostages."

He later added: "The ball is in Hamas' court. We are ready to renew the military operation at the end of four days but if Hamas wants the extension of the humanitarian pause - they know exactly what they need to do."

Woman among hostages released who Palestinian Islamic Jihad said was dead

76-year-old Hannah Katzir is among the 13 captives released from Gaza and now back in Israel.

It comes after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad had said on Tuesday that Katzir had been killed in Gaza after accusing Israel of “stalling” her release after the group offered to return her for humanitarian reasons.

Names and ages of all 13 Israeli hostages released

Top from L-R: Margalit Moses, 77, Adina Moshe, 72, Danielle Aloni, 45, and her daughter Emilia, 5; middle: Doron Asher, 34, and her daughters Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2 Hannah Katzir, 76; bottom row: Keren Munder, 54, and her son Ohad, 9, Ruti Munder, 78, Yaffa Adar, 85, and Hannah Perry, 79.

The list was released shortly after the military confirmed the 13 released Israeli captives had crossed back into Israel.

Israeli hostages released on November 24

Names and ages of hostages start to be released

Among the Israeli hostages are four children and five elderly women, according to Israel.

The names of some hostages are starting to be released.

• Grandmother Adina Moshe, 72, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz
• Danielle Aloni and her five-year-old daughter Emilia, also kidnapped from Nir Oz
  
• Margalit Berta Mozes, 78, a cancer survivor
• Nine-year-old Ohad Munder, his mother, Keren Munder, 54, a teacher, and grandmother, Ruthy Munder, 78

Hostages seen leaving Ofer prison in coach

Video footage shows a white coach reportedly carrying Palestinian hostages from Ofer prison into the West Bank.

Images of 13 hostages released

The Israeli government has released images of the 13 hostages released

72-year-old cancer survivor among hostages released

72-year-old cancer survivor Adina Moshe is among the Israeli hostages released today.

Her image has been projected onto a screen in Tel Aviv as families wait to welcome home their loved ones after seven weeks in captivity.

Pictures of the various hostages have been rolling on a loop outside a welcome centre in the Israeli capital.

Israeli hostages inside Israeli territory

The Israeli hostages are now inside Israeli territory, the IDF has confirmed.

They were with special forces, undergoing assessments, before being transported to Israeli hospitals. Shortly, they will be reunited with their families in Tel Aviv at a welcome centre.

"The Israel Defence Forces salutes and embraces the released hostages upon their return home," it said in a statement.

"The IDF, together with the entire Israeli security establishment, will continue operating until all the hostages are returned home."

Israeli hostages are being taken to hospital (Sky News/Youtube)

Footage shows Israeli hostages being taken to hospital

Footage shows Israeli hostages being taken to hospital after release.

Hostages to be taken to Tel Aviv shortly

Israeli hostages escorted out of Gaza by the Red Cross are due to be flown to Tel Aviv shortly where they'll be reunited with their families at a welcome centre.

Israeli hostages taken to hospital

Many of the Israeli hostages - the vast majority reported to be elderly - have been taken to hospitals after being escorted by the Red Cross to undergo medical checks.

Palestinian hostages released from Israel