Hostage-prisoner swap: Hamas hands over 7 Israeli captives under Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel and Hamas started the hostage-prisoners exchange process , with Hebrew media reporting that seven hostages have been transferred to the Red Cross in Gaza.

According to The Times of Israel, the announcement of the commencement of the effort was heard from a speaker at the Hostage Square , which garnered loud cheers.

As per the report, the seven hostages released as of now are Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor and Guy Gilboa-Dallal, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the Al-Arabi Atari Al-Araby channel reported that Hamas’s military wing is currently transferring Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza City . However, there is no confirmation from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) of the exchanges.

The exchange came shortly after the Red Cross announced that it had started ‘a multi-phase operation’ to oversee hostage and prisoner releases as part of the ceasefire deal proposed by US President Donald Trump.

The Red Cross said it will receive hostages held in the Gaza Strip to transfer them to Israeli authorities, while also overseeing the release of prisoners to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Red Cross “will also facilitate the transfer of remains of the deceased so that families can bury their loved ones with dignity,” it added.

Israel confirms the handover

Soon after media reports started to swirl around, Israeli authorities confirmed that Hamas has released seven hostages into the Red Cross’s custody. However, there is no immediate information on their condition.

Hamas has said 20 living hostages will be exchanged for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Families and friends of hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that the hostages were in the hands of the Red Cross. Tens of thousands of Israelis are watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv.

The packed crowd in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv erupted in cheers as the names of the hostages to be released were read on local television. They clapped and chanted, “Bring them home now!” According to The Associated Press, some were seen holding Israeli flags with a yellow hostage ribbon on them. Others held posters with the faces of the hostages. Some clutched their chests and choked back tears.

Meanwhile, the IDF’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, held an assessment with top officers at the military’s hostages and missing persons headquarters, during the release of seven hostages from Hamas captivity to the Red Cross, which will transfer them to the hands of the military.

During the meeting, Zamir “expressed his appreciation to all IDF bodies for their thorough preparations and emphasised the importance of maintaining a high level of readiness and alertness,” a statement from the army says.

Al Jazeera is now reporting that the second stage of the release of living hostages will now take place at 10:00 am in southern Gaza.

With inputs from agencies.