Trump LIVE: First Israel hostages released by Hamas as US president says 'war is over'
The Trump administration has been watching live news coverage of the Israeli hostages being released from on board Air Force One.
On social media, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a photo of the coverage being watched from inside the US presidential plane alongside the caption "history in the making".
Donald Trump is set to touch down in Israel imminently.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) say the first seven Israeli hostages released by Hamas in Gaza are now in Israeli custody.
In a statement on X, the IDF said: "Seven returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA [Israel Security Agency] forces on their return to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment.
"The commanders and soldiers of the IDF salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel.
"The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit asks the public to act responsibly and with sensitivity, to respect the privacy of the returning hostages, and to rely solely on official information.
"The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on."
The hostages are set to be reunited with their families at the Re'im military base in southern Israel.
Hundreds of Israelis lined the roads leading to the Re’im military base, where the released hostages will first be brought in Israel.
Their families have been arriving there over the last few hours to reunite with them.
The crowds, some seen dancing and singing, waved Israeli flags, yellow flags that symbolize the campaign to bring back the hostages, and some American flags.
Israeli military helicopters wait in preparation to take hostages released by Hamas in Gaza to hospitals in Israel after they arrive at the Reim military base.
The hostages are being released to the Red Cross before being handed over to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) who will take to the Re'im base, southern Israel.
The first seven Israeli hostages have been released from Gaza.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has confirmed the first seven Israeli hostages have been released to the Red Cross.
In a statement, it said: "According to information provided by the Red Cross, seven hostages have been transferred into their custody, and are on their way to IDF and ISA [Israel Security Agency] forces in the Gaza Strip.
"The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on."
Hamas has also confirmed the handover, officials tell Reuters.
Family and friends of Elkana Bohbot, held hostage in Gaza, react as they watch the hostage release live stream.
Hamas has handed the first seven Israeli hostages over to the Red Cross.
Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor and Guy Gilboa-Dalal are are the first hostages to have been released by Hamas, Hebrew media reports.
Egypt says it will also award Donald Trump the country's highest civilian honour.
The US President will be given The Order of the Nile for his efforts to stop the war in Gaza, according to a statement from the office of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
The award will recognise Trump’s “distinguished contributions to supporting peace efforts, defusing conflicts, and most recently, his pivotal role in ending the war in Gaza,” it added.
It comes after Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office said he will award Mr Trump Israel’s highest civilian honour.
Mr Trump is set to receive the “Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor,” for his efforts to bring Israel's hostages home.
The American President is expected to arrive in Israel later this morning.
Buses with the emblem of the Red Cross have been pictured travelling in Gaza ahead of the release of more Israeli hostages.
The buses were travelling towards eastern Gaza from Khan Yunis in the south.
The hostages are being freed to the Red Cross who will take them to the Israeli military.
They will then travel to a military base in southern Israel where they will be reunited with their families.
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!”
Some held Israeli flags with a yellow hostage ribbon on it, while others held posters with the faces of the hostages.
Some clutched their chests and choked back tears.
Hamas released seven Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, the first to be freed as part of the ceasefire deal, the AP news agency reports.
Reports in Hebrew media say the seven include Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor and Guy Gilboa-Dallal.
There was 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.
Israel says Hamas has handed over the first seven hostages to the Red Cross as part of the Gaza ceasefire, according to the Associated Press news agency.
More to follow.
The Red Cross says it has begun “a multi-phase operation” to oversee the release of hostages and prisoners as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
It 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.
Israeli media is reporting that Red Cross vehicles have arrived at the meeting point for the first hostage release.
The first release of Israeli hostages from Gaza will include six people, local reports said earlier.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) previously confirmed the Red Cross was travelling to a meeting point in northern Gaza.
The first release is expected around 6am UK time.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has confirmed the Red Cross is travelling to a meeting point in northern Gaza.
The IDF said several hostages will be transferred to the Red Cross.
It said on X: "The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on."
The first release of Israeli hostages from Gaza will include six people, according to local reports.
\ud83d\udfe1 According to information received, the Red Cross is on its way to a meeting point in northern Gaza where several hostages will be transferred into their custody.
The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 13, 2025
The first release of Israeli hostages from Gaza will include six people, according to local reports.
They will reportedly be freed at around 6am UK time in northern Gaza.
Hamas will free Matan Angrest, brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor and Omri Miran, according to Hebrew-language media quoted by The Times of Israel.
The names of more than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners and detainees set to be freed by Israel has been released.
The Hamas-run Prisoners Media Office has published the names on Telegram.
Red Cross vehicles are reportedly moving into position to collect the Israeli hostages.
They will be handed to the Red Cross who will then take them to the Israeli military.
The hostages will then be transported to the Reim military base where they will be reunited with families.
On X, the Israeli air force said it has helicopters ready to bring the hostages home.
Early on Monday, Hamas released a list of the 20 living Israeli hostages it will free this morning.
According to the Reuters news agency, the names include: Bar Abraham Kupershtein, Evyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Angrest, Matan Zangauker, Eitan Horn, Eitan Abraham Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Rom Braslavski, Ariel Cunio and David Cunio.
After the hostages held by Hamas are freed, Israel is due to release around 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
They include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge.
The timing of the release by Israel has not been announced yet.
Hamas has released a list early Monday morning of the 20 living hostages it says will free in the coming hours.
The hostages are expected to be handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and then to the Israeli military, which will take them to the Reim military base to be reunited with families.
It is unlikely that the remains of up to 28 other hostages will be returned at the same time.
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