Gaza ceasefire latest: Israeli hostage Agam Berger freed in Gaza - as Hamas seeks 'maximum attention' with releases

Agam Berger returns in good condition, but Israelis face 'difficult moments' ahead

Agam Berger has now undergone a medical examination following her return to Israel, where she has been declared in "good condition".

Most of the hostages released by Hamas have so far been in a relatively good health, but that will no doubt start to change soon, says Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

"I think there's some concern that we're entering a phase where initially it was the younger female hostages being released, but now we're into a phase where some older hostages might be released," he says.

"They could be in more complex medical conditions. And then, of course, we will get to a phase quite soon as well when we're seeing hostages released, who are dead. 

"That will be a very difficult moment for the Israelis."

Process of release 'led by hostages'

The process of hostages being released has been refined "many times by Israel", adds Bunkall.

He says hostages are met immediately by designated support personnel after their initial release, who will stay with them throughout the process.

"They instruct a lot of the IDF who will be around not to speak to the hostages initially, unless the hostages want to speak to them," says Bunkall.

"That's so that they don't feel overwhelmed. 

He says the process is "very much led by the hostages".

"I was told during the week that if the hostages say they want to have a shower before they see their parents, then that's what happens."

'Thank God we have reached this moment', says family of Agam Berger

Agam Berger's family have praised their "strong, faithful and brave" daughter in a statement this morning.

"Thank God we have reached this moment, and our hero Agam has returned to us after 482 days in enemy hands," said the statement.

"Our daughter is strong, faithful, and brave. We want to thank the security forces and all the people of Israel for their support and prayers.

"Now Agam and our family can begin the healing process, but the recovery will not be complete until all the hostages return home."

The statement was released via the Hostages and Missing Families Forum group.

Van escorted by fighters arrives at Khan Younis handover point

A white van with tinted windows has arrived in Khan Younis, escorted by armed fighters.

Gaza's second-largest city is the second site of hostage handovers taking place today.

We're expecting Israeli civilians Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Moses, 80, to be released.

Fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad are both present.

"It looks a little bit more chaotic" than the release of Agam Berger in Jabalia, says Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

The release is taking place outside the ruins of the home of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel in October.

Red Cross arrive at second hostage release site

The Red Cross has arrived at a second hostage handover site in Gaza. 

White vehicles belonging to the humanitarian organisation could be seen pulling into Khan Younis.

They are facilitating the transfer of each hostage from Hamas to the Israeli military.

Israeli soldiers order Palestinians not to celebrate prisoner releases

Some Palestinian families awaiting the release of their loved ones from Israeli custody today have been warned not to celebrate, an official overseeing their release told our US partner network NBC News.

Speaking in Ramallah, in the West Bank, Khalil Falama said Israeli forces had visited the homes of some families and warned them against any celebrations.

This follows the scenes of jubilation in Ramallah last week that met a group of freed Palestinian prisoners, with some being carried on the shoulders of the crowd.

Falama added Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be released between around 11.30am and 1pm local time (9.30am-11am UK time) today.

Agam Berger being reunited with family

Agam Berger has arrived at an initial reception point in southern Israel, where she is being reunited with her family, the IDF says.

It adds that medical officers are accompanying the returning hostage, and she will now undergo an initial medical assessment. 

"IDF representatives are accompanying the rest of her family waiting at the hospital and updating them with the latest available information."

Hamas garnering 'maximum attention' with hostage releases

Hamas has orchestrated the release of Israeli hostages to garner "maximum attention", says correspondent Adam Parsons in Jerusalem.

He notes that the location for some hostage releases is Jabalia, where a refugee camp for displaced Palestinians is located and where several high-profile Israeli military attacks have taken place since the conflict began.

There have also been people gathering in Khan Younis, the other location where hostages are being released, and celebrating outside the house of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the IDF in October.

"Hamas, I think, is to an extent really trying to orchestrate this whole process for maximum attention and almost as a certain PR effort," says Parsons.

Hostages will be met with 'delirium'

We've already seen the joyous scenes that Israeli hostages have been met by after finally returning home.

Parsons says it's impossible to ignore the plight of those held captive in Gaza when you fly into Tel Aviv at Ben Gurion Airport, with images of hostages, yellow ribbons and slogans all over.

"It's very hard to overstate the profundity of this conflict," says Parsons. 

"And now this resolution sees hostages coming back. They will be greeted with delight and by absolute delirium by their family and friends, and where their every word and every insight will be seized upon."

Hostage crosses border - as joyous family watch on screen

Hostage Agam Berger has crossed into Israeli territory, the IDF says.

"The returning hostage is currently on her way to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where she will be reunited with her parents," the military said.

Hostage releases taking place in two separate locations

Hostage releases are taking place in two separate locations, according to our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

One of these is in Jabalia, in the north of Gaza, and one in Khan Younis, in the south.

Agam Berger was among those being freed in Jabalia.

There is a "formality" to the event, with Hamas making Red Cross sign a form before handing her over, says Bunkall.

"The process is seeming pretty smooth. It is now the third time this has happened.

"We've seen this play out on a number of occasions."

The drive from Jabalia to the border will take around 30 minutes, before released hostages are met at one of three Israeli centres.

"They'll have an initial medical check to make sure that they don't need any emergency care," Bunkall adds.

"They'll see their families will be waiting for them. And then after a short while, maybe an hour, maybe two hours, they'll go to a hospital near Tel Aviv, which is a pretty short helicopter ride away."

Hostage returned to Israeli forces

A returning hostage has just been transferred to the IDF, a statement reads.

"The returning hostage is currently being accompanied by IDF special forces and ISA [Israeli Security Agency] forces on her return to Israeli territory, where she will undergo an initial medical assessment," the Israeli military said.

"The commanders and soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces salute and embrace the returning hostage as she makes her way home to the State of Israel."

A few minutes ago, Israeli soldier Agam Berger was handed over by Hamas fighters to the Red Cross.

Israeli hostage waves to crowd as Hamas hands her over to Red Cross

An Israeli hostage has emerged on a stage erected at the handover point and has waved at the crowd.

Agam Berger, a female soldier, now 20, was captured aged 19.

She is one of three Israeli hostages expected to be released alongside five Thai citizens.

Red Cross arrive at hostage handover site

Red Cross vehicles have arrived at the hostage handover location in Gaza.

Footage shows what appear to be representatives of the humanitarian organisation speaking with an official, while armed fighters stand by and photographers approach them, two of which are wearing balaclavas.

Palestinian flags have been draped from the rubble of destroyed buildings, and crowds are watching on.

What we know about the unscheduled hostage release

Hamas is set to release eight hostages today after complications in the agreement.

The swap is unscheduled, coming after Israel and Hamas disagreed over the identities of the hostages released over the weekend.

Israel demanded that Arbel Yehoud, a civilian being freed today, was part of that group. 

When she was not released, Israel held up the movement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians looking to return to what is left of their homes in the north of Gaza.

International mediation efforts brought about an additional exchange today and cleared the way for Palestinians to head north.

Another release scheduled for Saturday will free male hostages, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners are scheduled to be freed in return.

Hamas fighters stand guard before release of hostages

In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Hamas fighters have been photographed standing guard before the release of hostages.

They are set to hand them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Members of the armed militant groups Popular Resistance Committees and Islamic Jihad are also at the site.

The spokesman of the Islamic Jihad armed wing said on Telegram the group "completed procedures to hand over two Israeli hostages". 

Three Israeli hostages are expected to be freed in return for 110 Palestinian prisoners. 

Israel and Hamas to exchange prisoners and hostages for third time

Hamas and Israel are set to engage in the third exchange of the ceasefire today.

Israel is to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas will set free eight hostages - three Israeli and five Thai nationals.

The Israelis set to be released are Agam Berger, 20, a female soldier; Arbel Yehoud, a 29-year-old civilian woman; and Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old man. 

The identities of the Thai nationals are not yet known. Israel says eight Thai hostages are being held in total.

Yehoud was at the centre of the dispute about the sequence of releases that briefly rocked the ceasefire over the weekend.

Israel said she was supposed to have been freed Saturday and delayed the opening of crossings to northern Gaza when she was not. 

Berger was abducted alongside four other female soldiers, who were freed on Saturday.

Of the 110 people set to be released from prisons in Israel, 30 are serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis. 

Zakaria Zubeidi, a prominent former militant leader and theatre director who took part in a dramatic jailbreak in 2021 before being rearrested days later, is also among those set to be released.

-SKY NEWS