Hamas hands over first seven hostages in Gaza ceasefire

Hamas has released 7 hostages into the custody of the Red Cross, the archetypal to beryllium released arsenic portion of a ceasefire successful the Israel-Hamas war.

There was nary contiguous accusation connected their condition.

Hamas has said 20 surviving hostages would beryllium exchanged for much than 1900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Families and friends of hostages broke retired into wild cheers connected Monday arsenic Israeli television channels announced the hostages were successful the hands of the Red Cross.

Tens of thousands of Israelis are watching the transfers astatine nationalist screenings crossed the country, with a large lawsuit being held successful Tel Aviv.

US President Donald Trump was arriving successful the portion on with different leaders to sermon the US-proposed woody and postwar plans.

A surge of humanitarian assistance was expected into famine-stricken Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of radical person been near homeless.

While large questions stay astir the aboriginal of Hamas and Gaza, the speech of hostages and prisoners marked a cardinal step towards ending the deadliest war ever betwixt Israel and the militant group.

Major Israeli TV stations aired special overnight broadcasts earlier the hostages’ merchandise arsenic anticipation grew.

People began to stitchery adjacent a ample surface successful Hostages Square successful Tel Aviv earlier dawn.

The hostages’ instrumentality caps a achy section for Israel.

Since they were captured successful the October 2023 Hamas onslaught that ignited the war, newscasts person marked their days successful captivity and Israelis person worn yellow pins and ribbons successful solidarity.

Tens of thousands person joined their families successful weekly demonstrations calling for their release.

As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for governmental purposes, adjacent arsenic helium accused Hamas of intransigence.

Last week, under dense planetary unit and expanding isolation for Israel, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.

The hostages will beryllium handed to the Red Cross and then to the Israeli military, which will take them to the Reim subject basal to beryllium reunited with families.

It is unlikely that the remains of up to 28 different hostages will beryllium returned astatine the aforesaid time.

An planetary task unit would work to find dormant hostages who were not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s co-ordinator for the hostages and the missing.

The timing has not been announced for the merchandise of Palestinian prisoners.

They see 250 radical serving beingness sentences for convictions successful attacks connected Israelis, arsenic well arsenic 1700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise onslaught connected southern Israel connected October 7, 2023, successful which some 1200 radical were killed and 250 taken hostage.

In Israel’s ensuing offensive, much than 67,000 Palestinians person been killed, according to Gaza’s wellness ministry.

The war has destroyed ample swaths of Gaza and displaced astir 90 per cent of its two cardinal residents.

It has besides triggered different conflicts successful the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies.

Source: AAP