The first tranche of hostages due to be freed by Hamas have been released and returned to Israeli soil.

Those exchanged include Margalit Mozes, 78, Adina Moshe, 72, Yafa Adar, 85, Hannah Perry, 79, and Danielle Aloni, 44, and her daughter Amelia Aloni, 6.

Ohad Mundar, 9, has been let go along with his mother, Keren Mundar, 54, and grandmother, Ruti Mundar, 78. His grandfather is believed to still be in Hamas captivity.

Doron Katz Asher, 34, and her two daughters Raz, four, and Aviv, two, have also been released.

Hannah Katzir, 77, who Palestine Islamic Jihad claimed had died in an Israeli strike was also liberated. 

No British citizens have yet been freed from Gaza.

In addition to the Israelis, ten Thai and one Filapino have today been let go as part of a seperate deal.

Twelve of the 13 hostages returned to Israel were seized from Nir Oz during Hamas’s brutal October 7 incursion into Israel, while Hannah Perry was taken from Kibbutz Nirim.

In a statement, a Nir Oz spokesperson said they welcomed the return of those freed but that their hearts were with the remaining captives.

"Many of the Kibbutz's families still remain without their loved ones by their side, and are deeply concerned for their wellbeing. We are anxiously waiting and wishing for the return of all the hostages from around the country,” they said.

"We demand the immediate release of every single person abducted that day. We will continue the fight until the last hostage is returned.”

The Israeli hostages are due to be reunited with their relatives at hospitals to which they will be transported after being psycologically and medically assessed.

The operation to return the hostages to their families—dubbed “Heaven’s Gate”—involves extensive preperations to ensure the wellbeing of those released, the IDF have said.

After eaving Gaza via the Rafah Crossing into Egypt at 2pm, the Israeli captives have been taken by the IDF to Hatzerim Airbase in southern Israel where they will undergo a short physical and mental checkup.

Mental health experts and psycologists will be on hand to greet them and explain what happened in their communities on October 7 when they believe the time is right.

The detainees will also be given phones so they can call their family as soon as they arrive at Hatzerim.

After a stay of up to two hours at the base, they will then be transported by either a minibus or a helicopter flying at a more comfortable and quiet mode than normal.

If any hostages require immediate medical attention they will be taken directly from the border to a hospital.

Schneider children’s hospital has recommended that the hostages remain at least 48 hours under observation before being released home.

In a statement, the IDF said the hostages are being escorted by the Shin Bet and security forces.

A spokesman said: "Our forces are accompanying the released hostages until they reach their families in the hospitals.

"The commanders of the IDF and its soldiers salute and embrace the returning hostages upon their return home.

"We will continue to work together with the defense establishment's bodies for the return of all the hostages.”

They also asked that the public, “show patience and sensitivity and respect the privacy of released hostages and their families.”

The released Thai nationals are due to be transported to an Israeli hospital for treatment.

Writing on X/Twitter, the country’s prime minister Srettha Thavisin said: “It has been confirmed by the Security Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that There are 12 Thai hostages already released. “Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details should be known. Please stay tuned.”

Bangkok says it believes 26 of its nationals, many of whom work as migrant labourers on Israeli farms, were kidnapped on October 7.

Just after 7am this morning hostilities ceased between the IDF and Palestinian militant groups for the first time in nearly 7 weeks as a truce agreement came into affect.

The Israeli detainees released on Friday comprise elderly women and mothers and their young children.

Adina Moshe was kidnapped to Gaza on October 7 from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, after Hamas militants shot and killed her husband David Moshe and burned their house down.

She has four children - Maya, Yael, Sasson, and Amos - and a number of grandchildren. She had heart surgery last year and has been without her medication.

Three members of one family were freed, 9-year-old Ohad, his 55-year-old mother Keren Mundar, and his grandmother Ruti Mundar, 78.

Ruti’s husband Avraham Mundar remains in Gaza. Keren’s brother Roi was murdered by Hamas on October 7. When he was buried on October 22, there was no one to sit shiva for him as his whole family were imprisoned in Gaza.
Ohad, who turned 9 in captivity is Keren’s only child and the only grandchild of Ruti and Avraham. He loves playing tennis and soccer, along with chess and Rubik’s Cube. The Hollywood actor Jason Alexander made an emotional appeal for his release last week.

Daniele Aloni, 44, and her daughter Emilia, 5, were freed, but her sister Sharon Aloni Cunio, her husband, Israeli actor David Cunio and their 3-year-old twins Ema and Yuly remain in captivity. Daniele and Emilia were visiting her sister at Kibbutz Nir Oz when the attack took place.
Daniele and Sharon’s brother Moran told CNN that the family had taken shelter in a safe room but Hamas set fire to the house and they were taken hostage after leaving to escape the flames.

Doron Katz-Asher visited Nir Oz for Simchat Torah to visit her mother, Efrat Katz, who was then killed on October 7. The accountant and her daughters, Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2, were released, but her brother, Ravid Katz, remains in captivity.

Retired teacher Hana Katzir, 76, is a mother of three and a grandmother of six. On October 7 her husband, Rami Katzir, 79, was killed in their home while her son Elad, 47, remains in Gaza.

Also released were Margalit Mozes, 77, a retired biology teacher with three children and ten grandchildren, and Yafa Adar, 85, a founder of Kibbutz Nir Oz whose eldest grandson, Tamir Adar, 38, was also abducted, and is still held hostage.

79-year-old Hannah Perry—the only released hostage not taken from Nir Oz—has one son, Nadav, who was also kidnapped and still remains in Hamas captivity and another, Roee, who was killed on October 7.

The prisoner exchange is the result of a complex series of negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas that were mediated by Qatar.

Under the terms of the deal, a total of 50 women and children are expected to be released over four days during a pause in fighting.

In exchange, Israel will release three times that number of Palestinian detainees.

In his first public remarks after the release of the kidnapped civilians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We have now completed the return of the first of our hostage—children, their mothers and other women. Each and every one of them is an entire world.

"But I stress to you, the families of the hostages, and to you, the citizens of Israel: We are committed to the return of all our abductees.

"This is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all goals of the war.”

The leader of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, claimed the exchange as a victory for the terror group.

"Israel thought it could free the captives through unprecedented killing and destruction and said it would not accept a cease-fire.

"After about 50 days and in the face of the people's struggle and resistance on every front, we managed to achieve a truce on terms set by Hamas and the resistance factions."

He added that Hamas "held difficult talks that included the Islamic group's desire to make things easier for Palestinian citizens and to prevent Israel from skirting its commitment to a cease-fire."

Palestinian prisoners relased by Israel were brought from Damon and Megiddo prisons, which are south of Haifa, to Ofer prison in the West Bank and processed on Friday. 

Family members of kidnapped children have expressed hope that their relatives may soon be free.

Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, whose great niece Avigail Idan – who turns four on Friday – was seized on October 7 told CNN: “I am very hopeful, our family is hopeful, it’s been 45 days since she was abducted and taken to Gaza.

"It’s excruciating. For our family, we have spent the last seven weeks – seven weeks – worrying, wondering, praying, hoping.”

Other said they had mixed emotions as they knew their relatives would not be released immediately due to their age.

Speaking to NBC, Israeli Oded Eshel said: “This is my cousin, Alon Shamriz, he was taken from his house on Oct. 7, he was stolen from his home... It’s really tough when your cousin, he doesn’t fit the same demographic, so it’s bittersweet."