Israel-Hamas war latest: Hostages released by Hamas named as Israel returns Palestinians to West Bank

The names of 24 hostages who have returned to Israel from Gaza on Friday have been confirmed by the Israeli government as Palestinian prisoners were freed to the West Bank by Israeli authorities.

It comes on the first day of a four-day truce deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.

The group of hostages comprised 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thais and one citizen of the Philippines. Four children, families and five other elderly people were among the group.

They underwent an initial medical check inside Israeli territory and were accompanied by Israeli soldiers to hospitals to be reunited with their families.

The group are among the some 240 people taken hostage by Hamas terrorists during a deadly October 7 rampage in southern Israel. Hamas is expected to free up to 50 hostages in exchange for around 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Shortly after, Israel confirmed that it released 39 Palestinian prisoners - 33 prisoners freed in the West Bank were handed to the Red Cross and the remaining six were being freed from a Jerusalem lockup.

The temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war took effect early on Friday, with the deal also allowing more aid to reach southern Gaza.Four fuel tankers and four tankers with cooking gas entered the Gaza Strip at the Rafah crossing from Egypt, Israel said.

Live coverage ends

22:04 , Miriam Burrell

That's all for our live coverage tonight.

Please check back in the morning.

Goodnight.

Eight freed hostages arrive at hospital

21:40 , Miriam Burrell

A helicopter has arrived with hostages at Schneider medical centre where they disembarked behind screens, as family and friends waited nearby.

Sky News is reporting that four children and four women were taken to the hospital in the city of Petah Tikva, east of Tel Aviv.

A preliminary examination found their physical health was good, according to a joint statement by the hospital and the ministry of health

David Cameron says 'huge relief' hostages returned today

21:16 , Miriam Burrell

UK's Foreign Secretary David Cameron has said it's a "huge relief to see hostages returned today".

He added: "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."

Two helicopters arrive at hospital in Israel

21:08 , Miriam Burrell

Two helicopters have landed in quick succession at a hospital in Israel, Sky News reports.

Hostages released today were expected to arrive at the hospital about now to receive medical examinations.

How have people responded to the release of hostages and prisoners?

20:41 , Miriam Burrell

Family and friends of Israeli hostages released by Hamas have celebrated the return of their relatives.

A crowd of Israelis gathered in a plaza in Tel Aviv to mark releases.

Yael Adar spotted her mother, 85-year-old Yaffa Adar, in a TV newscast of the release and was cheered to see her walking.

"That was a huge concern, what would happen to her health during these almost two months," she told Israel's Channel 12.

But Yael Adar's 38-year-old son, Tamir Adar, remains in captivity. Both were kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

"Everyone needs to come back. It's happiness locked up in grief," said Ms Adar.

In the West Bank town of Beituna, hundreds of Palestinians poured out of their homes to celebrate the release of 39 prisoners, honking horns and setting off fireworks that lit up the night sky.

"As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I can't really celebrate," said Abdulqader Khatib, a UN worker whose 17-year-old son, Iyas, was freed.

"But I am a father. And deep inside, I am very happy."

200 aid trucks enter Gaza amid ceasefire

20:16 , Miriam Burrell

Us President Joe Biden just said more trucks carrying aid have reached Gaza as the pause in fighting holds.

The president cited more than 200 vehicles, and the UN has said its Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA has received 137 trucks.

Biden speaks after hostage release

20:03 , Matt Watts

President Joe Biden praised US diplomacy behind Friday's release of 24 hostages held by Hamas fighters, saying it was the start of what he expected would be further hostage releases by the Palestinian militant group in the coming days.

"Beginning this morning, under a deal reached by extensive U.S. diplomacy, including numerous calls I've made from the Oval Office to leaders across the region, fighting in Gaza will halt for four days," Biden told a news conference.

Biden declined to speculate about how long the Israel-Hamas war would last, but said he thought the chances of an extension of the ongoing truce were "real." He also expressed hope that American nationals held by Hamas would be freed.

"I don't know how long it will take," Biden said.

"My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region is also putting pressure on all sides to slow this down, to bring this to an end as quickly as we can."

Hamas fighters released 24 hostages on Friday during the first day of the war's truce -- including 13 Israeli women and children, 10 Thai farm workers and a Filipino -- after guns fell silent across the Gaza Strip for the first time in seven weeks.

The hostages were transferred out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing, accompanied by eight staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a four-car convoy, the ICRC said.

Biden says fresh wave of releases to follow those out of captivity today

19:49 , John Dunne

President Biden is holding a press conference about the hostages released and says it is just the start of the process.

He said: "The teddy bears waiting to greet those children at the hospital are a stark reminder of the trauma these children have been through at such a very young age." The president continued: "Today's releases are the start of a process. We expect more hostages to be released tomorrow."

Four Germans among hostages released from Gaza - Foreign Minister

18:53 , Miriam Burrell

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said four Germans were among the 24 hostages released from captivity in Gaza.

"I am so incredibly relieved that 24 hostages were just released from Gaza, among them four Germans, and that a father, after 49 days of hell, of unbelievable fear, can finally embrace again his two small daughters and his wife," Ms Baerbock said on the sidelines of a party conference of her Greens party.

"The release of all the remaining hostages, especially the Germans among them, remains a top priority."

Freed Israeli hostage, aged 85, transported on golf cart

18:51 , Miriam Burrell

In a still image taken from video, Hamas' militants appear to transport Yaffa Adar, 85, an Israeli civilian kidnapped on October 7, into Gaza strip in a golf cart.

Yaffa Adar was among Israeli hostages released on Friday.

Pictured: Released Palestinian prisoners celebrate

18:46 , Miriam Burrell

Photographs are emerging of released Palestinian prisoners, some who have reunited with family.

39 Palestinian prisoners released, Israel says

18:43 , Miriam Burrell

Israel confirmed that it released 39 Palestinian prisoners in line with a truce deal that saw 13 Israeli hostages freed by militants in Gaza hours earlier.

Qadura Fares, who heads an advocacy group for prisoners, said 33 prisoners freed in the West Bank were handed to a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

He said the remaining six were being freed from a Jerusalem lockup.

137 aid trucks offloaded in Gaza

18:41 , Miriam Burrell

137 aid trucks have been offloaded by UNRWA in Gaza, making it the biggest humanitarian convoy received there since October 7, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said.

The OCHA added that 129,000 litres of fuel and four trucks carrying gas also crossed into Gaza.

'We couldn't wait for the hours to pass': Families of hostages speak out

18:38 , Miriam Burrell

"We couldn't wait for the hours to pass," said Corinne Moshe, the daughter-in-law of released hostage 72-year-old Adina Moshe.

Her husband and his siblings were waiting at the hospital to reunite with their mother, who was captured by Hamas gunmen from Kibbutz Nir Oz, she told Israel's Kan public broadcaster.

Corinne's son Erez said he was waiting to see his grandmother.

"I miss her very, very much. I want her to be back already. I want to have dinner with her and the entire family again."

Pictured: Hostages freed by Hamas

18:35 , Miriam Burrell

Photographs are emerging of the 24 hostages who returned to Israel today.

Israeli PM's office release names of released hostages

18:24 , Miriam Burrell

Names of hostages released from Gaza have been confirmed by the Israeli government as the following:

• Asher family: Doron Katz Asher (34 years old), Raz Asher (age four) and Aviv Asher (two years old)

• Aloni family: Daniele Aloni (45 years old) and Emilia Aloni (age six)

• Monder family: Ruth Munder (age 78), Keren Munder (54 years old) and Ohad Munder (age nine).

• Adina Moshe (age 72), Hanna Katzir (age 76), Margalit Mozes (age 77), Channah Peri (age 79) and Yafa Adar (85 years old)

Photos emerge of hostages released

18:09 , Miriam Burrell

Keren Munder and her son Ohad are among the Israeli hostages released from Gaza today.

'33 Palestinians released from prison'

17:53 , Miriam Burrell

A Palestinian official says 33 Palestinians have been released by Israel from a West Bank prison.

Vehicles leave Ofer prison

17:47 , Miriam Burrell

Vehicles can be seen leaving Ofer prison near Jerusalem, as Palestinian prisoners are set to be released by Israeli authorities.

During the four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Gaza militants have pledged to release 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Israeli media name hostages

17:35 , Miriam Burrell

Israeli media have published what they say are the names of 13 Israelis freed from Gaza.

They range in ages between nine and 85.

The Times of Israel reported the following names:

• Hanna Katzir, 77

• Margalit Mozes, 77

• Yafa Ader, 85

• Hannah Perry, 79

• Adina Moshe, 72

• Danielle Aloni, 44; and Emilia Aloni, 9

• Ruthi Monder, 78;  Keren Monder, 54; and Ohad Monder, 9

• Aviv Asher, 2; Raz Asher, 5; and Doron Katz-Asher, 34

'They're home', Israeli military says

17:29 , Miriam Burrell

IDF Special Forces are with the 24 released hostages.

'12 hours of calm' on Lebanon-Israel border

17:27 , Miriam Burrell

There had been 12 hours of calm along the Blue Line marking the border between Lebanon and Israel, the US embassy in Lebanon has said.

It's a change from daily exchanges of fire taking place between armed group Hezbollah and Israel.

The frontier had been quiet since early Friday morning, residents said, apart from a small spray of fire from the Israeli side.

Four children among freed hostages

17:24 , Miriam Burrell

A list of the freed hostages includes four children, family members and five other elderly women, according to reports.

Ambulances wait for hostages at medical centre

17:18 , Miriam Burrell

Ambulances and emergency workers are waiting outside Schneider medical centre, where some of the released hostages are expected to be brought.

People are also waiting outside with a large bunch of white balloons.

Meanwhile Israelis outside the Museum of Tel Aviv, watching a livestream, applauded the first hostages being bought into Egypt before being turned over to Israel by the ICRC.

Hostages arrive in Israel

17:08 , Miriam Burrell

The Israeli military says hostages released by Hamas have returned to Israel.

Military officials said the hostages underwent an initial medical check inside Israeli territory.

They were to be accompanied by Israeli soldiers to hospitals to be reunited with their families.

13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino released

17:00 , Miriam Burrell

Qatar's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the release of 24 hostages after seven weeks of captivity in the Gaza Strip.

"Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen," said Majed al-Ansari, the ministry's spokesman. Qatar was a key mediator in the hostage release.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which delivered the hostages from Gaza into Egypt, also confirmed the release.

The hostages, women and children, were undergoing medical checks before they were to be transferred to Israel.

They are to be taken to Israeli hospitals and reunited with their families.

They're the first of 50 people to be released from Gaza during a four-day truce that began Friday.

Israel is to release 39 Palestinian prisoners later Friday, the first of a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners to be freed under the cease-fire.

Watch: Hostages freed from Gaza into Egypt

16:55 , Miriam Burrell

Hostages can be seen travelling in Red Cross vehicles.

24 hostages released in total - Red Cross

16:10 , Josh Salisbury

24 hostages were released today, the International Red Cross has said.

This appears to be the 12 Thai nationals who were released, alongside 12 Israeli hostages.

Thai hostages release 'done under separate deal'

15:34 , Josh Salisbury

The release of around 12 Thai hostages were released on Friday in a separate agreement mediated by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas, Reuters has reported.

The news agency cited an official source saying that the hostages were all men and were not covered by the truce deal with Israel that relates to women and children.

The separate negotiation track was opened when Thailand's foreign minister visited Qatar on October 31, which led to a specific agreement with Hamas to release the Thais, the official added.

This means those numbers will not be included in the 50 hostages who are expected to be released by Hamas during the four-day truce.

Hostages 'transferred to the Egyptians', according to Israeli media reports

14:59 , Sami Quadri

Israeli TV stations have reported hostages held by Hamas have now been transferred to the Egyptians.

It comes after they were released under the terms of a ceasefire agreement which took effect on Friday morning.

Hostages held by Hamas 'transferred to the Red Cross'

14:47 , Sami Quadri

Israeli media have reported hostages held by Hamas have been transferred to the Red Cross.

They are reportedly on their way to the border crossing with Egypt, which is where they are expected to be released.

Twelve Thai hostages 'released by Hamas'

14:16 , Sami Quadri

Twelve Thai hostages have already been released by Hamas in Gaza, Thailand's prime minister has said.

"It has been confirmed by the security department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there are 12 Thai hostages already released," Srettha Thavisin wrote on X.

He added that embassy officials are "on their way" to pick them up in the next hour.

"They should know their names and details. Please stay tuned," he said.

Twelve Thai nationals and 13 Israelis to be released

14:14 , Sami Quadri

Twelve Thai nationals are to be released from Gaza on Friday, along with 13 Israeli captives, according to the head of Egypt's state information service.

The hostages are expected to pass through the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

Thirty-nine Palestinian prisoners are also to be released by Israel.

Hostages arriving into Egypt, says spokesperson

13:52 , Josh Salisbury

Egypt is now beginning to receive hostages released by Hamas, a government spokesperson has said.

It said its mediation efforts had helped secure the release of 12 Thai hostages and 13 Israelis, including women and children.

Fighting will resume after truce - Israeli defence minister

13:36 , Josh Salisbury

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Friday that a truce under way with Hamas in Gaza was a "short pause", after which Israel would resume operating with full military force.

Gallant made the remarks to his Italian counterpart who was on a visit to Tel Aviv, according to his office.

"There will be a short pause and then we will continue operating with full military power," he said.

"We will not stop until we achieve our goals: the destruction of Hamas and bringing home the hostages from Gaza to Israel - there are 240 hostages and it is something we cannot accept and cannot tolerate."

Future Palestinian state could be demilitarised, says Egyptian president

13:23 , Josh Salisbury

A future Palestinian state could be demilitarised, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday.

"We said that we are ready for this state to be demilitarised, and there can also be guarantees of forces, whether NATO forces, United Nations forces, or Arab or American forces, until we achieve security for both states, the nascent Palestinian state and the Israeli state," Mr Sisi said during a joint news conference in Cairo.

A political resolution which requires a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, has remained out of reach, Sisi added.

Arab nations have rejected suggestions that an Arab force provide security in the Gaza Strip after the end of Israel's current military operation there against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.

Sunak: We will welcome truce

13:07 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has welcomed the "critical" temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict but said it was only the "first step" towards seeing the release of all hostages.

The Prime Minister said the UK will work with partners in the region to "make sure that this deal sticks", amid expectations it will see more life-saving humanitarian aid enter Gaza.

If truce continues, it would be the first significant halt in the conflict that erupted after Hamas's deadly attack on Israel on October 7.

It comes as Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron is visiting the Occupied Palestinian Territories to meet Palestinian leaders and commit a further £30 million in aid for the people of Gaza.

Read more here.

Hostages to be brought home under military guard

12:55 , Josh Salisbury

The first Israeli women and children to go free from Gaza on Friday under a truce with Hamas will be flown home under military guard.

Ahead of the 4pm (2pm GMT) release of the 13 hostages, who have not been identified, Israel's air force published images of dolls, colourful throw-rugs and personal hygiene kits set up at locations scheduled to receive them by helicopter.

Hamas is due to deliver the group to neighbouring Egypt. In return, Israel will release 39 Palestinians from its jails.

The swap is part of a temporary ceasefire that took hold in Gaza on Friday,