Joyful 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 their release was confirmed, 471 days after they were taken captive in the October 7, 2023 attacks.
The three women – named 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 set to undergo a medical assessment before being transported to a hospital in Tel Aviv, where they are to be met by family.
Prisoner transportation buses park in front of the Ofer Israeli military prison to release 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire deal. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
