First Israeli hostages return to families after Gaza release as Trump arrives for historic handover: Live updates

In remarks made while on his way, the US president declared that ‘the war is over,’ citing the ceasefire as proof that the conflict in Gaza has entered a new phase.

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The Israeli military has said the Red Cross is on its way to a point in southern Gaza to take custody of second group of living hostages.

‘The war is over, OK?’ Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One as he travelled to Israel for the release of the hostages.

‘I think people are tired of it,’ he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.

The Republican president said the chance of peace was enabled by his administration’s support of Israel’s decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz has posted on X after the release of the first wave of hostages.

He said:’The State of Israel and the security establishment embrace our first seven hostages returning home, including IDF soldier Matan Angrest.

‘We await all of them with excitement and great love.’

Air Force One carrying President Trump has flown over Hostages Square in Tel Aviv before landing in Israel.

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the release of the hostages as part of the Israel-Hamas war ceasefire.

The flyover came just after the first seven living hostages arrived in Israel from Gaza.

The Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been forced to endure horrifying ordeals throughout their 737 days in captivity.

This has included starvation, torture and being forced to dig their own graves.

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The seven living hostages freed by Hamas have returned to Israel, the country’s military has said.

The group will be transferred to a military base in southern Israel to be reunited with their families. They’ll then be taken by helicopter to Israeli hospitals.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrived at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport in Egypt last night.

There he will meet world leaders for a summit on ending the war in Gaza.

Donald Trump’s administration is watching the footage of the release of the hostages from Air Force One.

The US president is due to touch down in Israel shortly.

Today’s prisoner exchange comes following the signing of a historic ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, that was brokered by Trump.

The first seven Israeli hostages are now in the hands of the IDF, it was confirmed on X just now.

The Israeli defense forces said the freed captives are ‘on their return to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment’.

It also made a plea to the public to ‘act responsibly and with sensitivity’ after their release.

They are awaiting the release of more hostages, who are set to be handed over to the Red Cross later this morning.

Hamas has released the first group of Israeli hostages after they spent more than two years in hellish captivity.

Seven captives were handed over to the Red Cross this morning, 737 days after they were taken into Gaza on October 7, 2023.

Families and friends of the hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that their loved ones were being released.

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A military source has told Reuters that the first seven Israeli hostages have been handed over by the Red Cross to IDF forces.

Pictures show a Red Cross vehicle driving through Gaza to an Israeli-controlled territory.

The Israeli military is yet to confirm the names of the hostages who have been handed over by Hamas. However, they have been widely reported in Israeli media to be:

• Eitan Mor
• Gali Berman
• Ziv Berman
• Matan Angrest
• Omri Miran
• Alon Ohel
• Guy Gilboa-Dalal

Pictures are coming in showing the huge operation to get the Israeli hostages to safety.

Here, an Israeli military helicopter is on stand-by on the Re’im military base in southern Israeli, waiting to take freed captives to hospital where they will need urgent medical attention.

More images are coming through from Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

A group of masked Palestinian militants armed with rifles can be seen standing guard in the area.

The first images of a Red Cross convoy transporting the first freed hostages through Gaza has been released.

The IDF confirmed earlier this morning that the hostages are on their way to an Israeli-controlled part of Gaza.

There they will be transported to Re’im military base in southern Israel where they will be reunited with their families.

Emotional scenes are coming out of Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as thousands of people wait for Israeli hostages to be released.

They are the latest pictures.

The Israel Defense Forces has just confirmed the handover of the first seven hostages to the Red Cross.

They are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in Gaza, they have confirmed via X.

‘The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on,’ they said in a post.

This has also been confirmed by Hamas.

Israeli soldiers and medics are on stand-by to take the first freed Israeli hostages to hospital.

Once Hamas have handed them over to the Red Cross, they will be transferred to a part of Gaza which is controlled by the Israeli military.

Then they will be transported to Re’im military base in southern Israel where they will be reunited with their families.

They will be taken to hospitals, with the Israeli air force on hand to immediately airlift any hostages who require urgent medical attention.

Thousands of people are gathered in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv as they nervously await for the hostages to be released after 737 days in captivity.

People cheered and embraced one another as it was announced the first seven Israeli hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas.

Others waved flags and signs saying ‘they’re coming home’.

These are the latest scenes.

Palestinian detainees are also being released today during this historic prisoner exchange. An official involved in the operation has told Reuters that all 1,966 prisoners being released by Israel have now boarded buses.

The first seven Israeli hostages are now in the custody of the Red Cross in Gaza, an official involved in the operation has confirmed to Reuters.

The father of Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who was kidnapped from the Nova festival, told Israeli news outlet Haaretz that his son ‘was handed over to the Red Cross’.

He continued: ‘In 15 minutes he is expected to be handed over to the IDF, and then he will arrive here’.

Israel says Hamas has handed over the first seven hostages to the Red Cross as part of the Gaza ceasefire.

There was no immediate information on their condition.

Noa Argamani was one of the Israelis kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the October 7, 2023 atrocities.

She became one of the most high profile faces of the tragedy after a picture emerged of her being captured by Hamas operatives.

Argamani was taken alongside her boyfriend, Avinatan Or.

She was rescued by IDF soldiers on June 8, 2024.

Or’s name was included on the list of hostages who will be freed today.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office said he will award U.S. President Donald Trump Israel’s highest civilian honor, the ‘Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor,’ for his efforts to bring the hostages home.

He is scheduled to land just after 9am local time.

Hamas has released a list of names of the surviving hostages who will soon return home to their families.

• Bar Kupershtein
• Evyatar David
• Yosef-Chaim Ohana
• Segev Kalfon
• Avinatan Or
• Elkana Bohbot
• Maxim Herkin
• Nimrod Cohen
• Matan Zangauker
• David Cunio
• Eitan Horn
• Matan Angrest
• Eitan Mor
• Gali Berman
• Ziv Berman
• Omri Miran
• Alon Ohel
• Guy Gilboa-Dalal
• Rom Braslabski
• Ariel Kon