Celebrations have broken out in Tel Aviv as the first three Israeli hostages were released under the Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Friends and relatives of the three women clapped and cheered in Hostages Square in central Tel Aviv when they were released, 471 days after they were kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attacks.
The three women – identified by the Israeli military as Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher – were transferred by Hamas to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Sunday afternoon.
They have now been handed over to Israeli forces and are expected to undergo a medical assessment before being transported to a hospital in Tel Aviv, where they will be met by their family.
Prisoner transport buses park in front of Israel's Ofer military prison to release 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Ilia Efimovich/dpa
