hostages, there to pick up the hostages, geneva—based, with a special responsibility when it comes to prisoners of war. when it comes to prisoners, really many aspects of these wars, they are the keeper of the geneva conventions, the rules on war. they are playing a role when it comes to the palestinian prisoners, when it comes to the israeli hostages. it is often said, with anger, among the array of sailors, the international community, the red cross was never able to see the hostages. they don't get a lot of access they would like to get. they do get access to israeli prisons, but they are always asking for more, to be able to play their role. so the process is unfolding after the delay of a few hours this morning. let'sjust get delay of a few hours this morning. let's just get an update again, we have been hearing throughout the day from jonah fisher, he is at the sheba hospital. that is where the first of the hostages, the

first three women, doron steinbrecher and emily damari will be released. so there won't be any cameras as the hostages go in for those, really, a very complete medical check. one doctor speaking to the bbc world service today spoke about a total—body effect, mentally, physically, there is no information about what kind of condition they will be when they arrive at that hospitaljust behind you. that is right, we have been trying — that is right, we have been trying to— that is right, we have been trying to follow the process of this handover of israeli hostages throughout the course of today — hostages throughout the course of today. the latest we are hearing _ of today. the latest we are hearing is that they have not yet been _ hearing is that they have not yet been given it to the red cross, — yet been given it to the red cross, that is the latest from the israeli side here. we know that— the israeli side here. we know that the — the israeli side here. we know that the red cross delegation has gone to try and pick them up, has gone to try and pick them up. in — has gone to try and pick them up. in an_ has gone to try and pick them up, in an gaza. at the same time, — up, in an gaza. at the same time, we— up, in an gaza. at the same time, we are seeing images come

through— time, we are seeing images come through from gaza itself, it is not clear— through from gaza itself, it is not clear if that is where the pick-up— not clear if that is where the pick-up is_ not clear if that is where the pick—up is due to take place, of large _ pick—up is due to take place, of large crowds gathering and masked — of large crowds gathering and masked hamas fighters holding the crowd back. we are waiting for confirmation from the israeli _ for confirmation from the israeli side that

for confirmation from the israeli s sustained injuries when believe sustained injuries when they were captured on october seven, — they were captured on october seven, 2023. so, they obviously arent— seven, 2023. so, they obviously aren't likely to have issues which _ aren't likely to have issues which need to be addressed. and that is_ which need to be addressed. and that is not— which need to be addressed. and that is not factoring in the 15 months _ that is not factoring in the 15 months in captivity in gaza being _ months in captivity in gaza being held by hamas, quite possibly underground for long periods — possibly underground for long periods. we do not know how they— periods. we do not know how they have _ periods. we do not know how they have been treated, quite possibly— they have been treated, quite possibly very badly. so i think it is very— possibly very badly. so i think it is very likely that when they— it is very likely that when they come here they will be kept — they come here they will be kept a — they come here they will be kept a very much away from the glare _ kept a very much away from the glare of— kept a very much away from the glare of the media spotlight. we are — glare of the media spotlight. we are likely to see some images _ we are likely to see some images which of the israeli authorities choose to make public _ authorities choose to make public and to release, to show people — public and to release, to show people that they are indeed home _ people that they are indeed home. but for very understandable reasons, we are not expecting them, we are not

expecting — not expecting them, we are not expecting to see any of them. yes, _ expecting to see any of them. yes. many— expecting to see any of them. yes, many of our viewers may remember, it is hard to forget the emotional scenes in the hospital where there was the reuniting of families and children and they were such heart—warming scenes when hostages emerged alive and were again in the embrace of their family members. there were earlier today there was a report that israel said that they hadn't learned lessons, they hadn't learned lessons, they put it, from the hostage releases in november of 2023 when there were very controversial videos put out by hamas when hamas was handing over at the hostages, many of them elderly women, to the international committee of the red cross. some of the women did not want to have anything to do with them, one put out her hand and said shalom. it was seen as a rather human gesture after terrible

captivity. we understand the israelis are going to try to ensure those kinds of videos do not emerge again, but of course the process inside the gaza strip is not in their hands and it is very much... it would also be the desire of the international committee of the red cross, who always try to preserve the dignity of people caught up in these terrible circumstances, to try to ensure that nothing is done to cause further stress to them in these incredibly stressful moments. everyone will be keeping a very close eye on the choreography of this, and the main objective has to be the well being, if we can call it that, of those first three women who will be emerging. we understand they will soon be back in israel and of course, the palestinian prisoners who will also come out of israeli detention. less time there were those videos to of their reports of ill—treatment inside israeli prisons. you should get an idea

that there soon about exactly how and when this is going to unfold in the next hour or so. yes, exactly. we are waiting here — yes, exactly. we are waiting here to _ yes, exactly. we are waiting here to see what goes on, i think— here to see what goes on, i think the _ here to see what goes on, i think the next step will be at confirmation from the red cross perhaps — confirmation from the red cross perhaps that they have the three — perhaps that they have the three hostages in their possession. then we will hear it most— possession. then we will hear it most likely from the israelis. that will be the true moment— israelis. that will be the true moment in which i think israel will say— moment in which i think israel will say that they have been released and probably, at that point, — released and probably, at that point, that may lead as you are saying — point, that may lead as you are saying to — point, that may lead as you are saying to the release of the palestinian prisoners. the way this deat— palestinian prisoners. the way this deal is going to work, it is a — this deal is going to work, it is a pretty— this deal is going to work, it is a pretty well phased agreement. every few days some israeii _ agreement. every few days some israeli hostages will be released, there are 33 names which — released, there are 33 names which have been released to be part of— which have been released to be part of this six—week temporary cease _ part of this six—week temporary ceasefire — part of this six—week temporary cease fire as it has been caiied~ _ cease fire as it has been called. particularly here in israei~ _ called. particularly here in israel. and the idea is that

hamas— israel. and the idea is that hamas sets free group of israeii _ hamas sets free group of israeli hostages, or in deed hands — israeli hostages, or in deed hands over the remains of an israeii — hands over the remains of an israeli hostage, because we do not know— israeli hostage, because we do not know and we are not expecting all of those 33 hostages to be alive still, every _ hostages to be alive still, every time that happens we are expecting there to be a reciprocal release of palestinian prisoners. so today there _ palestinian prisoners. so today there is— palestinian prisoners. so today there is a — palestinian prisoners. so today there is a list of 90 palestinian prisoners that has been — palestinian prisoners that has been prepared for it release, some — been prepared for it release, some of— been prepared for it release, some of those who are lined up to be _ some of those who are lined up to be released from the palestinian side have been in a 'ail palestinian side have been in a jait for— palestinian side have been in a jail for pretty horrific offences. murdering israelis, some — offences. murdering israelis, some involved in bomb attacks that have — some involved in bomb attacks that have killed multiple israelis... it is not going to be a — israelis... it is not going to be a particularly palatable moment for the israeli public when — moment for the israeli public when they see the scenes of celebration, when they see some of these — celebration, when they see some of these people who have been involved — of these people who have been involved in attacks on israel and — involved in attacks on israel and israel is going free in return— and israel is going free in return for the release of these hostages. return for the release of these hostaues. , , return for the release of these hostages— hostages. yes, it is a very controversial _ hostages. yes, it is a very controversial deal. -

hostages. yes, it is a very controversial deal. there l hostages. yes, it is a very i controversial deal. there has been criticism expressed by many israelis, we heard earlier today from the israeli foreign minister. they are releasing these people and israelis do not forget that in the last big hostage release, the israeli soldier that among the palestinian prisoners release was a man who then went on to play a leading role in hamas and was the mastermind of the october seven attacks until he was killed by israel in the gaza strip. enormous interest, everyone watching this with baited breath. give us a little more description of what is happening where you are, we have seen where anna foster is in hostages square, as it has come to be known, around the israel museum. so many people gathering around the big screen. there must be a lot of media where you are, are other people in the city where on almost every street there are big banners of the hostages, nobody wants to forget about the hostages, are the crowds gathering there as well? thea;r

gathering there as well? they are not gathering _ gathering there as well? they are not gathering here - gathering there as well? they are not gathering here as - gathering there as well? they are not gathering here as well. i do are not gathering here as well. i do not — are not gathering here as well. i do not think they have been allowed, _ i do not think they have been allowed, perhaps the camera lady, — allowed, perhaps the camera lady, anastasia, can you think around? — lady, anastasia, can you think around? you will see there is a line of— around? you will see there is a line of media at lined up over in this— line of media at lined up over in this direction if she carries— in this direction if she carries on looking ground. there _ carries on looking ground. there is— carries on looking ground. there is quite a lot of media here — there is quite a lot of media here waiting for this moment to take _ here waiting for this moment to take place when we imagine that the hostages are going to be driven— the hostages are going to be driven along that road and then into the — driven along that road and then into the hospital over here past — into the hospital over here past the _ into the hospital over here past the tarpaulin. i think the bil past the tarpaulin. i think the big gathering here in tel aviv is in — big gathering here in tel aviv is in hostages square, in the centre. — is in hostages square, in the centre, where lots of families are _ centre, where lots of families are there _ centre, where lots of families are. there is a sense that peopie _ are. there is a sense that people have been kept away from here, _ people have been kept away from here, to _ people have been kept away from here, to be quite frank, there may— here, to be quite frank, there may not— here, to be quite frank, there may not be a lot to see here. the _ may not be a lot to see here. the helicopter it will land, they— the helicopter it will land, they will be driven in. as we have — they will be driven in. as we have been— they will be driven in. as we have been discussing, given what — have been discussing, given what has _ have been discussing, given what has happened to these three — what has happened to these three women, given the experiences they may have, given — experiences they may have, given their medical needs, this

is not — given their medical needs, this is not going to be a moment for them _ is not going to be a moment for them to— is not going to be a moment for them to come out and talk to them to come out and talk to the media, talk to people, most likely _ the media, talk to people, most likely it — the media, talk to people, most likely it is — the media, talk to people, most likely. it is going to be a moment— likely. it is going to be a moment for them to receive, quite — moment for them to receive, quite possibly, the medical attention they need and of course _ attention they need and of course for them to be with their— course for them to be with their families. yes, you mentioned the first sighting that anybody it may get may be those _ that anybody it may get may be those helicopters in the air above _ those helicopters in the air above that hospital that may be the first — above that hospital that may be the first real confirmation aside _ the first real confirmation aside from any government statements that 1511 00:10:29,892 --> 00: