What happened today:
- Four Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas and returned to Israel, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed. Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag, all female soldiers, were exchanged for 200 Palestinian prisoners.
- In a show of force, a large deployment of Hamas militants, as well as crowds of civilians, gathered at Gaza City's Palestine Square this morning as the women were being handed over, according to NBC News' team there.
- Israeli officials said they have blocked the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, which was expected to begin today, saying they will not allow it until Arbel Yehud, a female civilian, is released.
- Seven hostages have been set free since the start of the ceasefire-hostage deal that went into effect last Sunday. A total of 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be released over several weeks during the first phase of the deal.
- According to the terms of the deal, 30 Palestinians will be released for each Israeli civilian hostage, and 50 for each soldier.
How the ceasefire deal will work
The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took hold on Sunday, and is expected to usher in a period of at least six weeks of paused fighting.
The deal is now in phase one, which should see, in addition to the pause in fighting, the release of 33 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians being held in Israeli jails.
At the end of phase one, all living women, children and older people held by Hamas should be freed. If the deal stays put after Saturday's release, hostage releases are expected weekly for the remainder of the first phase.
In exchange for each hostage released, Israel will free 30 Palestinian women, children or older people. In exchange for each soldier released by Hamas, Israel will free 50 prisoners.
As a part of the first phase, the Israeli army has pulled back to a buffer zone to allow Palestinians to trek through war-torn Gaza to what is left of their homes. It will also allow much-needed aid trucks to flow into Gaza — something that had been severely restricted during fighting.
In theory, the deal will unfold in three phases, but phases two and three have yet to be negotiated. Officials will return to the table to hammer out the details should the deal hold through phase one.
White House celebrates hostage release, credits Trump
The White House has celebrated the release of the four hostages released today by Hamas, and credited President Donald Trump for securing their freedom.
“Today the world celebrates as President Trump secured the release of four more Israeli hostages who were, for far too long, held against their will by Hamas in horrific conditions,” it said in a statement.
“The United States will continue with its great partner Israel to push for the release of all remaining hostages and the pursuit of peace throughout the region.”
While U.S. officials have credited the collaboration between Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Biden’s Middle East representative Brett McGurk for securing the ceasefire deal, the president-elect sought to claim much of the credit for himself on Thursday.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum earlier today thanked President Trump in a statement shortly after the four hostages were released.
Aunt of Liri Albag hopes all hostages 'can be happy like us'
The aunt of Liri Albag, the Israeli hostage set free by Hamas in the second round of releases, spoke with NBC News’ Raf Sanchez about what her niece’s return means to her family and her message for the remaining hostages."We knew eventually she would come back alive and safe," she said.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels unilaterally release 153 war detainees, Red Cross says
Yemen’s Houthi rebels unilaterally freed 153 war detainees today, the International Committee of the Red Cross said, one of several overtures in recent days to ease tensions after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Previous prisoner releases have been viewed as a means to jumpstart talks over permanently ending Yemen’s decadelong war, which began when the Houthis seized the country’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. However, the Houthis’ release comes just after they detained another seven Yemeni workers from the United Nations, sparking anger from the world body.
Those released previously had been visited by Red Cross staff in Sanaa and received medical checks and other assistance, the organization said while announcing the release. The Houthis had signaled Friday night they planned a release of prisoners.
The Red Cross said it “welcomes this unilateral release as another positive step towards reviving negotiations.”
Israel releases Palestinians arrested before the 1993 Oslo Accords, prisoners organization says
Among the released Palestinians is Muhammed Al-Tous, referred to as “the dean of prisoners” by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an organization in the occupied West Bank that represents prisoners.
It said in a statement that Tous, 67, was arrested in October 1985 and sentenced to lifetime imprisonment “on the grounds of his resistance to the occupation” and his affiliation with the Palestinian faction Fatah.
The organization also said 57-year-old prisoner Raed Al-Saadi was also among those to be released. Al Saeedi was detained in 1989 at the beginning of the 1978 Intifada, it said, and “sentenced to two life sentences and 20 years,” the statement said.
Both Al-Tous and Al-Saadi were arrested before the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, a set of agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization that aimed at improving peace while expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank.
Hamas accuses Israel of obstructing ceasefire agreement
Hamas has accused Israel of obstructing the ceasefire agreement by continuing to block key areas and preventing Palestinians from returning to their homes.
Earlier today, Israel said Hamas had “failed to meet its obligations” to first release civilian hostages as part of the deal. Although Hamas released four female soldiers, Israel has said it will not allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza until civilian hostages are freed from captivity.
Israel “continues to procrastinate in implementing the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners, by continuing to close Al-Rasheed Street and preventing the return of displaced persons on foot from the south to the north,” the Hamas statement said.
It added that it held Israel “responsible for any delays in executing the agreement and the repercussions of that on the rest of the stations.”
Hostages reunite with their families after being released by Hamas
There were screams of joy, tears and hugs as the Israeli hostages were reunited with their families for the first in 477 days.
The four served as surveillance soldiers at the Nahal Oz military base on the border with Gaza when they were taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023.
Netanyahu calls hostage’s parents after release
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoke with the parents of Liri Elbag, the 19-year-old hostage who was released by Hamas today.
“My wife and I, along with the entire people of Israel, embrace Liri and her friends who have been released in great light,” he told Shira and Eli Elbag in a phone call.
“I am happy that with our great efforts, that of the IDF and all those concerned, we have truly succeeded in bringing this about. This is truly a great day. We are working to free all the others,” he added.
Elbag, who comes from Moshav Yarhi, was captured from the Nahal Oz military base where she was part of a surveillance unit with the other hostages released today.
Hostages are in 'stable' condition, hospital director says
The four female hostages released earlier today by Hamas are in ‘stable’ condition, says Dr. Lena Koren Feldman, general manager at the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva in Israel.
“A few hours ago we received Daniela, Karina, Naama and Liri,” she said in a statement.
“After an initial medical examination I am glad to update that their status is good and stable. Our team will accompany the returnees in the coming days and further on, with the needed medical and mental treatment.”