Thirteen Israeli hostages released by Hamas are now in the hands of IDF troops in the Gaza Strip, the military says.
Hamas handed over the 13 — named as Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, and Ariel Cunio — to the Red Cross in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.
The hostages will be escorted out of the Strip by Israeli special forces to an army facility near the border community of Re’im for an initial checkup and to meet their families.
Earlier, seven hostages were freed from Gaza City. Now that those 20 have been released, Hamas is no longer holding any living hostages for the first time since its October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel.
Later today, Hamas is set to start returning the remains of the 28 dead hostages it is still holding.
And at the Hostages Square, crowd of tens of thousands who gathered roars as the MC announces that the remaining 13 living hostages are in Israeli hands.
“Thank you to all the fighters who’ve fought the Swords of Iron war over the past two years, all the wounded who’ve paid a heavy price, all the widows, all the reservists — thank you, thank you,” she says.
The crowd is dotted with Israeli and some US flags.
In the background, upbeat Hebrew music plays, and people dance on stage. Some in the audience chant “Am Israeli Chai” (the nation of Israel lives).