A Jewish TV news anchor has broken down after receiving confirmation the first Israeli hostages had been released by Hamas.
Sky News Australia presenter Sharri Markson was visibly emotional as she reported the release of the first seven among 20 Israeli hostages on Monday, after being held captive for two years.
The Red Cross has initiated the process of transferring the 20 captives, who were taken during a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in coordination with Hamas.
‘This is the most incredible breaking news to be reporting,’ Markson said while choking back tears.
‘These seven hostages, who have been confined in Gaza tunnels for two years, a total of 738 days, are now with the Red Cross, heading towards the IDF and returning safely to their families in Israel.’
‘Seven hostages have now been handed over.’
Markson then read out the names of the freed hostages, before breaking down again moments later.
‘This is the beginning of the end of the war,’ she said.
Jewish TV host Sharri Markson (pictured) broke down as she revealed Israeli hostages were being freed by Hamas
Markson (pictured) choked back tears while commenting on the joy the release would bring to Israelis and the global Jewish community
The Red Cross collected the hostages from a prearranged location in northern Gaza (pictured, a Red Cross vehicle in transit before the release on Monday).
‘To see them home, surely, I can tell you there will not be a dry eye in all of Israel.
‘There are hundreds of thousands of people on the streets celebrating.’
The Red Cross confirmed the development in a statement.
‘The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has commenced a comprehensive operation to manage the release and transfer of hostages and detainees, as part of the terms of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas,’ the ICRC stated.
The Red Cross has chosen not to release any footage of the freed captives, citing ‘respect for the dignity of those released and their current condition’ as the reason for their decision.
Hamas earlier confirmed the names of the living hostages who will be returned and the over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners who will be freed.
The exchange is part of a Donald Trump-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas that aims to bring an end to the war.
The IDF earlier Monday explained the hostages would be released at a meeting point in Northern Gaza ‘where several hostages will be transferred into their custody.’
It is expected more aid will be allowed into Gaza following the release of the hostages (pictured, Gaza City on Sunday)
The remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released later on (pictured, Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday)
The force added it was preparing to receive additional hostages through the Red Cross later on.
Monday’s release is expected to be followed by an increase of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza, where more than a million Palestinians have been displaced.
Hamas moved all the living hostages into three different locations in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, ready for release.
Special forces were on standby to intervene if mobs tried to attack them, while the Israel Defence Forces warned it would respond to any provocations or deviations from the plan.
President Trump was expected to arrive in the region about 9am (local time) along with other leaders to discuss the US-proposed peace deal and postwar plans.
Onboard Air Force One, Trump said he was hopeful the hostages may be released earlier than expected, but added: ‘Getting them was amazing actually, because we were involved, and they were in places that you don’t want to know about.’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Monday marked ‘the beginning of a new path’.
He told the relatives of the remaining hostages that their release was a ‘historic event that some people did not believe would happen’.
Netanyahu added: ‘Together we will continue to win, and with the help of God, together we will guarantee the eternity of the country and land of Israel.’
