Cheers of joy have erupted in Israel as four Israeli hostages were released from captivity in Gaza.
The second hostage and prisoner release took place on Saturday morning as the female soldiers were handed over to the Red Cross in front of hundreds of Hamas gunmen.
The hostages released are Karina Ariev, 20, Daniella Gilboa, 20, Naama Levy, 20, and Liri Albag, 19.
The four hostages have now officially been transferred to the Israeli Defence Forces, the military has said in a statement.
This is the moment the four Israeli hostages are brought to a stage in Palestine Square
Reuters
Writing on X, the IDF said: "The four returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment."
"The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel."
"The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit asks everyone to respect the privacy of the returning hostages and their families."
During the handover, the women were marched over to a stage in Palestine Square where they held hands and waved to the crowd.
Hamas gunmen line street as four hostages released
REUTERSKarina, Daniella, Naama and Liri were taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, from a military base at the Israel-Gaza border.
A live-stream of the event shown in Hostage Square in Tel-Aviv left crowds crying and cheering at the return of the four women.
The families of the released hostages are waiting at the Gaza border to welcome them home to Israel.
The Red Cross will take them for health checks before they are reunited with their families.
In return, around 200 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails.
Hundreds of gun-wielding Hamas terrorists lined the streets of Palestine Square in Gaza City at the moment of release as civilians who had gathered reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar”.
The Red Cross and Israeli police are waiting outside Ofer prison in the West Bank preparing for the release of detained Palestinians.
In an update just before 10am, the Israeli military confirmed the hostages had safely crossed the border back into the country.
