HAMAS hostages are finally being released following nearly 50 days of captivity in Gaza and will soon be reunited with their families.
The first group made up of nine women and four young children are back in Israel after being escorted out of Gaza to the Rafah border by the Red Cross with eight being taken straight to hospital.
Among those freed today were Danielle Aloni and her six-year-old daughter Emilia who were horrifyingly kidnapped in Kibbutz Nir Oz while they were visiting family.
Danielle's sister and brother in law Sharon Aloni-Cunio and David Cunio are reportedly still hostages alongside their three-year-old twin daughters.
Adina Moshe, 72, was also taken from her home in Nir Oz moments after her husband was slaughtered by the terrorists and Doron Katz Asher, 34, and her two brave young daughters Aviv and Raz were all kidnapped in the same area.
The mother and her two and four-year-old girls were taken as they visited a relatives house.
Keren Munder, 54, Ruth Munder, 78, and nine-year-old Ohad Munder were all released today after they were rounded up and forced to leave Ruth's house.
Ruth's partner and Ohad's grandfather is thought to still be held by Hamas as only women and children were among those let go.
Hana Katzir, 76, was also sensationally freed after Hamas forces reportedly claimed she had died earlier this week.
The final three people saved in the first set of releases were Margalit Moses, 77, Yaffa Adar, 85, and Hanna Peri, 79.
Out of the 13 people freed eight were taken to hospital.
Four children, three mothers and one grandmother were taken to Schneider Children's Medical Center hospital, in the city of Petah Tikva, east of Tel Aviv to undergo a preliminary examination.
According to a joint statement by the hospital and the ministry of health all of them were okay and their physical health was good.
CEO of Schneider Children's Medical Center, Dr Efrat Bron-Harlev went on to say: "I was thrilled to be the one to receive four children, three mothers and a grandmother to the best and most caring hands here.
"There are not enough words to express the emotion that we are feeling at this time, together with the families and the entire nation of Israel.
"Our hearts go to the hostages who are still in Gaza."
The Red Cross convoy at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is believed to have included at least four vehicles with up to six people in the rear of each.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed on Friday evening that 13 Israeli hostages and 11 foreign nationals were freed.
He said in a video statement: "I emphasise to you, the families, and to you, the citizens of Israel: We are committed to returning all our hostages.
"This is one of the war’s objectives, and we’re committed to achieving all of the war’s objectives."
Moving pictures from the scene showed a woman with white hair waving at the hundreds who had come to meet the hostages at the crossing point, while another showed a woman staring blankly ahead.
People danced and sang in the streets of Israel in celebration of the hostages' release.
Many have speculated over the mental and physical conditions of the hostages after spending seven weeks in the terrorists' lair.
They would likely have been unaware of the atrocities that have unfolded since their capture and would not have known if any of their loved ones had been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Some of the children who were taken may be released to find they no longer have parents.
A total of 24 hostages have been freed from Gaza, according to the Red Cross: 13 Israeli women and children, 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino.
No British hostages were released today, according to .
Tensions have flared in the West Bank as protesters chanting "we want our prisoners" gather outside the detention centre where Hamas hostages were released.
Hamas agreed to free at least 50 of the 240 hostages it snatched on October 7 in return for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Both sides said they would release women and children first.
A Qatar spokesperson today said: "We confirm the release of 39 women and children detained in Israeli prisons".
The truce-for-hostages deal was reached after weeks of intense negotiations - with Qatar, the United States and Egypt serving as mediators.
If it holds, it will mark the first significant break in fighting since Israel declared war on Hamas seven weeks ago, raising hopes of eventually winding down the war.
The Red Cross wrote on X/Twitter this afternoon: "We are relieved to confirm the safe release of 24 hostages.
"We have facilitated this release by transporting them from Gaza to the Rafah border, marking the real-life impact of our role as a neutral intermediary between the parties."
Those freed are now being taken to the Hatzerim airbase in southern Israel where they will undergo a short physical and mental checkup before being taken to hospital, where their families are waiting.
Any hostages in need of urgent medical attention will be taken straight from the border to a hospital.
It comes after Israel unveiled its heartbreaking rescue centre where it planned to take the freed women and children in a special operation dubbed "Heaven's Door".
Today marked the beginning of a four-day truce period between Israel and Hamas, with a ceasefire starting at 7am local time.
The pause in fighting comes as bomb-blitzed Gaza continues to be relentlessly pummelled by Israel's airstrikes and ground operation.
There were no reports of fighting after the truce began.
Netanyahu insisted that Israel's mission remains unchanged, stating that the offensive will resume once the ceasefire period ends.
He said: "We are at war and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals."
Israel agreed to release 24 women and 15 teenage boys from its jails today in exchange for the hostages, a Palestinian official said.
The Israeli government released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who could be released in the coming days as part of the deal.
Most were teenagers arrested over the past year for a string of minor offences.
A list of the hostages set to be released by Hamas during the ceasefire includes Irish-Israeli nine-year-old Emily Hand.
Her shattered dad Thomas Hand, 63, broke down earlier this week saying his little girl must be thinking: "Where's my daddy, why didn't he come to save me?"
Emily was snatched from bed during a sleepover at a friend's house in Be'eri Kibbutz and taken to Gaza on October 7.
An update from Sky News this afternoon said no British hostages would be released today.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed on Friday afternoon that a number of Thai hostages held by Hamas had already been released.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "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."
Qatar's foreign ministry later said 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen were released along with the 13 Israelis.
Shocking CCTV footage last week released by Israel appeared to show Hamas terrorists drag a Thai civilian, among other hostages, into Gaza's al-Shifa Hospital where Israel claims the terrorists are based.
Israel Defence Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said earlier today: "In the past day, the IDF completed its preparation for the reception of the abductees who returned to Israel from the Gaza Strip.
"As part of the preparation, the IDF set up and trained initial reception points, where a medical envelope will be provided if required and escort [hostages].
"After that, the returnees will continue to the hospitals where they will meet with their families."
Videos of the IDF's reception point showed boxes of items including underwear, baby wipes, blankets, and sanitary products, tables and chairs and beanbags, and large buffet-style dishes of hot food - as well as teddy bears, colouring-in books, soccer balls, and stickers for the tiniest of the hostages.
The operation will see hostages including children brought by the IDF to the Hatzerim airbase in southern Israel where they will undergo a short physical and mental checkup.
Families of the released hostages waited for their loved ones at the hospitals, with hotel rooms reserved for them in the area.
The "Heaven's Door" process will be repeated over the next four days as the rest of the 50 hostages are released from Hamas captivity.
