will also play a role going towards this process. let's focus now and just go back to where you are. we expect the helicopters will bring the three women, bear to live they rx hostages now. they will be brought to the facility. we understand other members of theirfamilies, more an their families, more an emotional theirfamilies, more an emotional reunions, have there been any indications as to how long the women may stay in the sheba medicalfacility? forthe medical checkups, both physical and mental. they are expected to undergo that, understandably, given all they have been through. only now they will be able to speak to medical professionals in israel, to detail exactly what has been the details of the ordeal.

there has been no indication, that_ there has been no indication, that will— there has been no indication, that will largely depend on the assessment that is made of what condition— assessment that is made of what condition they are in. perhaps it is_ condition they are in. perhaps it is worth _ condition they are in. perhaps it is worth reflecting on what we know _ it is worth reflecting on what we know about when they were taken _ we know about when they were taken hostage by hamas on october— taken hostage by hamas on october seven 2023. emily damari, _ october seven 2023. emily damari, for example, she is the british— damari, for example, she is the british israeli national who was — british israeli national who was taken from tibbetts kfar aza in— was taken from tibbetts kfar aza in the hamas attack on that kibbutz— aza in the hamas attack on that kibbutz -- — aza in the hamas attack on that kibbutz —— from kfar aza. there were _ kibbutz —— from kfar aza. there were reports she was injured on her leg — were reports she was injured on her leg and her hand and that would — her leg and her hand and that would have been a gunshot injurx _ would have been a gunshot injury. obviously, it is 15 months— injury. obviously, it is 15 months later but it is very unlikely— months later but it is very unlikely she will have received anything — unlikely she will have received anything approaching decent medical care inside gaza during that period while being held by hamas — that period while being held by hamas. likely that she will need — hamas. likely that she will need medical attention if not 'ust need medical attention if not just to — need medical attention if not just to do with that but to do with— just to do with that but to do with how— just to do with that but to do with how she has been treated

throughout the 15 months. another— throughout the 15 months. another of the hostages were released today, romi gonen was on the _ released today, romi gonen was on the phone to her mother when she was— on the phone to her mother when she was at— on the phone to her mother when she was at the music festival and — she was at the music festival and was _ she was at the music festival and was attempting to flee the hamas— and was attempting to flee the hamas attack and was on the phone — hamas attack and was on the phone to _ hamas attack and was on the phone to her mother. at the time — phone to her mother. at the time she _ phone to her mother. at the time she said, "they shot me mum, _ time she said, "they shot me mum. i'm _ time she said, "they shot me mum, i'm bleeding, everyone in the car— mum, i'm bleeding, everyone in the car is— mum, i'm bleeding, everyone in the car is bleeding". it is likely, _ the car is bleeding". it is likely, again, that romi will need — likely, again, that romi will need some follow up on that kind — need some follow up on that kind of— need some follow up on that kind of injury that she suffered when she was being taken — suffered when she was being taken prisoner on october the 7th 2025 _ taken prisoner on october the 7th 2023. those are injuries from — 7th 2023. those are injuries from 15_ 7th 2023. those are injuries from 15 months ago. who knows what _ from15 months ago. who knows what other— from 15 months ago. who knows what other issues they may have developed during 15 months in captivity? you know, we can only— captivity? you know, we can only imagine how they were treated. _ only imagine how they were treated, what life was like for them, — treated, what life was like for them, quite possibly living in tunnels, _ them, quite possibly living in tunnels, underground. in gaza. there may be many other issues, which _

there may be many other issues, which need — there may be many other issues, which need to be tackled. probably only once they get hip to the _ probably only once they get hip to the sheba medical center iater— to the sheba medical center later this evening —— they get here — later this evening —— they get here that— later this evening —— they get here. that is when they will be fully— here. that is when they will be fully assessed. this is likely to be — fully assessed. this is likely to be something which takes place — to be something which takes place privately. you can see there is a tarpaulin up behind me to shield _ tarpaulin up behind me to shield the part of the centre where — shield the part of the centre where the hostages will be received. it is likely they will— received. it is likely they will be _ received. it is likely they will be taken quickly through. i will be taken quickly through. i am — will be taken quickly through. i am not _ will be taken quickly through. i am not really sure how much we will— i am not really sure how much we will hear further about the hostages. all of the statements which _ hostages. all of the statements which we — hostages. all of the statements which we have heard from the hostage — which we have heard from the hostage groups and indeed from the israeli government is that how— the israeli government is that how that _ the israeli government is that now that they had been released, their families, now that they had been released, theirfamilies, have, released, their families, have, for the — released, theirfamilies, have, for the most part, requested privacy— for the most part, requested privacy to— for the most part, requested privacy to get that rehabilitation process going, troth— rehabilitation process going, both irr— rehabilitation process going, both in terms of their physical well—being, addressing, you well— being, addressing, you know. — well—being, addressing, you know, whatever they have, aitmehts _ know, whatever they have, ailments they have, and also psychologically, of course. emerging from such a long period _ emerging from such a long period of captivity, where they almost — period of captivity, where they almost certainly have not been treated — almost certainly have not been treated particularly well. that

will also — treated particularly well. that will also need to be addressed. jonah fisher, thank you for that update from the sheba medical center in tel aviv. we will continue to broadcast these live images on one side of your screen from re'im, the kibbutz in southern israel where three women, former hostages, romi gonen, emily damari, doron steinbrecher have been reunited with their mothers. no doubt intensely emotional reunion. a day they feared they would never see. they will be getting some preliminary medical assessments before they take off in the helicopters that we have been showing in these live images towards the sheba medical center. the square in tel aviv taken over by the hostages' families and the supporters, so many gathering, thousands

gathering tonight to be part of this moment. i will keep an eye on that but let's bring in the former israeli prime minister. joining me now is naftali bennett, former prime minister of israel. former head of the new right party and the jewish former head of the new right party and thejewish home party. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. an extraordinary moment being described by the prime minister, a moment for all of israel. the prime minister said the nation embraced these returning hostages. what is your reaction to the return of the first three of the hostages, this first phase of this new agreement between israel and hamas? , , ., , agreement between israel and hamas? , , . , hamas? every israeli feels part of one big _ hamas? every israeli feels part of one big family. _ hamas? every israeli feels part of one big family. israel - hamas? every israeli feels part of one big family. israel is - hamas? every israeli feels part of one big family. israel is a . of one big family. israel is a big family. we feel like three of our daughters have come home to dave. at the same time, ——

home today. we also want the rest of the hostages to come home. it is a very emotional time. there is no israeli that is not out, caring about the hostages that were released. and those who we still need to come home. i willjust tell you that the grandmother of roni, when she heard that she came out, she was asked how do you feel, she said it is great but what about the rest? that was her instinctive response, what about the other hostages? that is what israel is about. all israelis caring one about the other. yes, it's been extraordinary to see the solidarity among the hostage families. as you mentioned, this is something which everyone in israel must be watching tonight. with baited breath to watch this process unfolds. and of course hoping this willjust be the beginning. as you know, 33

hostages, women, children, the elderly, will be released if all goes to plan in this first phase. and then the rest, the younger men, the male soldiers, that will be in the second phase of the agreement. how optimistic are you, naftali bennett, that this agreement will hold, so that all the hostages can come home? that's a ve bi hostages can come home? that's a very big question. _ hostages can come home? that's a very big question. we - hostages can come home? that's a very big question. we are - hostages can come home? that's a very big question. we are all. a very big question. we are all looking forward to seeing all of the hostages are released. the thing is that israel has set three goals. one is to eradicate hamas' military. the second is to remove hamas as the governor of the sovereign of gaza and the third is to bring home all of our hostages. obviously, there is significant tension between the two. we have given it a year and a quarter to achieve the first two. we've not yet completed it, though we have dramatically

diminished hamas' power. they took a huge hit. they have lost several leaders. many of the hamas commanders and fighters are dead. but we had not yet achieved all the goals. we need to bring home the hostages. at the end of the day, we will have to ensure that hamas is no longer governing gaza. as you know, there have been comments by generals in the israeli defense forces, including the former defence minister you i , they believe they have done all they could on the military front. and they had to look for political and diplomatic ways to make sure a new kind of governance emerged in gaza. do you believe there must be a return to war! or can israel look to other ways to find a

solution that palestinians can run their own affairs and israelis can feel secure. it’s israelis can feel secure. it's not deterministic. - israelis can feel secure. it�*s not deterministic. there are options to bring about that outcome that we want to achieve. we want gaza to not be governed by the same terror organisation that conducted the october seven. organisation that conducted the octoberseven. i organisation that conducted the october seven. i believe it is possible. we have to be much more creative, much more forceful about it. it could be either israeli civil administration as a temporary basis until we bring in, say, egypt and the saudis and the emirates and other moderate arab states would take over. we do not want to govern gaza but we will not relinquish the ultimate responsibility of our security. we won't make that mistake again. we have to ensure that october seven can never repeat itself. this

ensure that october seven can never repeat itself.— never repeat itself. as you know, never repeat itself. as you know. a — never repeat itself. as you know. a far _ never repeat itself. as you know, a far right _ never repeat itself. as you know, a far right wing - never repeat itself. as you - know, a far right wing member of the cabinet has said that he completely opposes this agreement and he has now left the government. the finance minister as well since he's not happy but he will watch what happens in the second phase of the deal. what do you say to those members of the israeli cabinet about their decision to still stand in opposition to a deal which has brought such happiness, to see the hostages returning home? i happiness, to see the hostages returning home?— returning home? ithink... i don'twant_ returning home? ithink... i don't want to _ returning home? ithink... i don't want to sort _ returning home? ithink... i don't want to sort of- returning home? ithink... i don't want to sort of turn i returning home? ithink... i| don't want to sort of turn the other opinion into illegitimate. both opinions are legitimate. all israelis, left and right, want to see the hostages home and all israelis, left and right, want to ensure that israel is secure. they thought there was a different way to achieve it. the thing is that they failed to achieve it

using... they got a year and a quarter, almost the longest war in israel's history. they had full backing of the israeli public and the full backing o