Four female Israeli hostages handed over to Red Cross in Gaza – live | Israel-Gaza war

Israeli forces have confirmed that they have received the four released hostages, reports Reuters citing Channel 13.

Earlier, Israeli soldiers were pictured preparing a helipad at the Beilinson Schneider complex in Petah Tikva, Israel, ahead of the arrival of the four released Israeli hostages as part of a prisoner-hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. Here is an image, via the newswires:

Crowds have gathered in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv, to follow the news of the release of four female Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas:

Another image of the four Israeli hostages released today by Hamas has been published:

Four female Israeli hostages in military uniform have entered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vehicles.

The four were led on to a podium in Gaza City amid a large crowd of Palestinians and surrounded by dozens of armed Hamas men. They waved and smiled before being led off and entering ICRC vehicles that will transport them to Israeli forces.

Here is an image taken from the live stream.

At least four International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vans have arrived at Gaza City Square ahead of the handover of four Israeli hostages, according to video seen by Reuters.

The news agency report that dozens of Hamas fighters are deployed around four cars positioned opposite the ICRC vehicles.

Four hostages have been seen exiting the vehicles, adds Reuters.

Here are some more images coming in on the newswires today:

Reuters has some more detail on the news that 70 of the 200 Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel on Saturday would be deported outside of Gaza and the West Bank

A Palestinian official close to the talks told Reuters that some of the freed prisoners will be released into Egypt. Some of those will stay in Egypt while others may go on to Algeria, Qatar or Turkey. They are likely to include militants convicted for deadly attacks in Israel that killed dozens of people, reports Reuters.

Hamas said that 70 of the 200 Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel on Saturday would be deported outside of Gaza and the West Bank, according to a statement by the group, reports Reuters.

Hamas released the list of 200 Palestinian prisoners set to be released by Israel on Saturday in exchange for four female Israeli soldiers as part of a ceasefire agreement between the group and Israel.

The 200 prisoners include long-serving inmates and others with lengthy sentences.

Hamas has released a list of 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel, according to a breaking news line from Reuters.

More details soon …

Away from Gaza and Israel, about 153 prisoners were released by Yemen’s Houthis on Saturday with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), according to a statement by the ICRC.

The identities of the prisoners were not disclosed, but the ICRC said they received regular visits by the organization in Yemeni capital Sana’a, reports Reuters.

Here are a couple of images coming in via the newswires:

The BBC are reporting that the hostages could be released within the hour. No time has been given officially, but they are basing this on updates from BBC correspondents in Gaza and Israel.

Its Middle East correspondent, reporting from Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, says that a stage and large screens have been set up there for the crowds gathered to follow the news.

A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza are on the way to collect Israeli hostages from Hamas, an official involved in the operation has told Reuters.