in the last few hours, 200 palestinian inmates have been released from israeli prisons. four female israeli soldiers were released by hamas. this has been the second exchange under the gaza ceasefire deal. the four hostages have reunited with their families. the women had been seized from an army base on the border with gaza when hamas attacked 15 months ago. iam nick live i am nick live in tel aviv where they have been celebrating the release of the four women. celebrating the release of the fourwomen. families celebrating the release of the four women. families here, though, say they won't give up until all of the hostages are home. in wadi, gaza palestinians are queuing to return to their homes. but this isn't guaranteed after hamas failed to release a civilian hostage today.

hello and welcome, i'm luxmy gopal. four female israeli soldiers freed by hamas have beeen reunited with their parents at a reception point in southern israel. they were taken by helicopter to a hospital and are now undergoing medical assessment. in exchange, israel has freed around 200 palestinian prisoners. two buses carrying detainees departed from two israel prisons. reports from egypt say 70 palestinian prisoners have now arrived in egypt, from where they'll travel on to neighbouring countries. meanwhile, hamas has told mediators that a female israeli civilian, arbel yehud, held hostage in the gaza strip, will be released next week. israel says she should have been freed today. in the last half hour, islamichhad has told the bbc it has given egyptian mediators proof arbel yehud is still alive. if confirmed, this would clear the way for thousands

of gaza residents to return to the north of the strip today, in theory. the israeli prime minister's office had said palestinian civilians won't be permitted to return to northern gaza until she is released. dr lena koren feldman, director of beilinson hospital delivering a statement. this is in southern israel. let's listen in. it looks like she has not started speaking yet but that is what we are expecting to hear shortly. we will return to that statement in southern israel once we have translation services so we will return to that so you can hear what is

being said exactly. we will leave that for the moment. in a moment, we will be hearing from our correspondence across the region. at first, this is our report from our middle east corresponding yolande knell. another show of force by hamas, its fighters lining up among the ruins in gaza city. whistling, cheering. and then, with the red cross ready and waiting, the first glimpse of the israeli soldiers after 15 months in captivity... ..in army uniforms. karina ariev, daniella gilboa, naama levy, all aged 20, and liri albag, now aged 19. all four apparently in good physical health. with foreign reporters currently unable to enter gaza, we're relying on footage filmed by local journalists. and among israelis watching in hostage square in tel aviv, there were cheers, as events in gaza's palestine square unfolded. the body language is positive.

i must say, what seems at first sight a good appearance does not necessarily say what's going on inside, inside the body, inside the soul. among the crowd, many are still anxious. everywhere here, there are signs, reminders of the dozens of israelis still held captive in gaza. it's not clear who's alive and who's dead. and there are worries, too, about whether this fragile ceasefire will hold to free them all. and now, israel is accusing hamas of breaching the terms of the ceasefire deal, as it's not released israeli women civilian hostages first. we are determined to return, to the return of arbel yehud, an israeli citizen, kidnapped from nir oz. and also, shiri bibas and her two children, kfir and ariel, whose welfare we are extremely concerned about.

israel's promised release of some 200 palestinian prisoners in exchange for its hostages did begin as planned. the prime minister's office is threatening to delay a further pull—out of israeli troops from gaza. with hundreds of displaced palestinians waiting for the green light to go back to what's left of their homes in the north, this is another very tense moment. that rapport is from yolande knell. let's cross live to tel aviv and speak to our middle east correspondent, nick beake. thank you very much and welcome back to hostage square in the heart of tel aviv where this morning there was huge jubilation at the sight of those four hostages being released. theirfaces those four hostages being released. their faces light up the big screen here and they are preparing for an event later today and the emphasis will be to make the point that while there was greatjoy today

the job is by while there was greatjoy today thejob is by no means done because lots of families and friends of the other hostages who remain in captivity in gaza say the effort can stop and they won't stop until their loved ones are released. i want to introduce you to michael whose brother was taken from the music festival. what happened with the rest of his family? happened with the rest of his famil ? , ., ., ., family? they all got there at 6:20am with _ family? they all got there at 6:20am with his _ family? they all got there at 6:20am with his wife. - family? they all got there at 6:20am with his wife. theyl family? they all got there at i 6:20am with his wife. they left their_ 6:20am with his wife. they left their two—year—old son at home with_ their two—year—old son at home with his — their two—year—old son at home with his grandparents. then a few minutes before they called us from — few minutes before they called us from inside a bomb shelter and was — us from inside a bomb shelter and was completely terrified and was completely terrified and kept repeating mum, you don't — and kept repeating mum, you don't want to know what is going _ don't want to know what is going on_ don't want to know what is going on here. a few minutes after— going on here. a few minutes after a — going on here. a few minutes after a group of terrorists arrived _ after a group of terrorists arrived and started throwing grenades. they stayed in the

bomb— grenades. they stayed in the bomb shelter with bullets. they murdered my sister—in—law and took_ murdered my sister—in—law and took my— murdered my sister—in—law and took my brother. murdered my sister-in-law and took my brother.— murdered my sister-in-law and took my brother. when you see what happened _ took my brother. when you see what happened today, - took my brother. when you see what happened today, the - took my brother. when you see | what happened today, the great i°y what happened today, the great joy of the hostages, i imagine there are conflicting emotions. very. on one hand you are happy because — very. on one hand you are happy because those families became my family, they became part of us so _ my family, they became part of us so i — my family, they became part of us so i am _ my family, they became part of us so i am happy as if it were myown— us so i am happy as if it were my own family almost. on the other— my own family almost. on the other hand, there are still 90 hostages _ other hand, there are still 90 hostages back in gaza including my brother and you cannot just rest _ my brother and you cannot just rest and — my brother and you cannot just rest and hope for the best. you have _ rest and hope for the best. you have to — rest and hope for the best. you have to keep fighting to get them — have to keep fighting to get them all released.- have to keep fighting to get them all released. your brother is one of the — them all released. your brother is one of the 33 _ them all released. your brother is one of the 33 hostages - them all released. your brother is one of the 33 hostages who l is one of the 33 hostages who are supposed to be released in this first phase of the

ceasefire. so for you, there is hope that after these 15 months of english carl and hope that after these 15 months of english car— of english carl and one hand ou of english carl and one hand you have — of english carl and one hand you have a _ of english carl and one hand you have a lot _ of english carl and one hand you have a lot of— of english carl and one hand you have a lot of hope -- i of english carl and one hand you have a lot of hope -- of| you have a lot of hope -- of english- _ you have a lot of hope -- of english- we _ you have a lot of hope -- of english. we have _ you have a lot of hope -- of english. we have an - you have a lot of hope -- of english. we have an end . you have a lot of hope -- of. english. we have an end date for this nightmare _ english. we have an end date for this nightmare but - english. we have an end date for this nightmare but we - english. we have an end date for this nightmare but we are| for this nightmare but we are deating — for this nightmare but we are dealing with monsters. hamas will do — dealing with monsters. hamas will do everything to make us suffer— will do everything to make us suffer and stop this deal with any kind _ suffer and stop this deal with any kind of excuse and they did it before — any kind of excuse and they did it before and we fear they will do it— it before and we fear they will do it again so we cannotjust become _ do it again so we cannotjust become and hope for the best —— become and hope for the best —— be cairn — become and hope for the best —— be cairn and _ become and hope for the best —— be calm and hopefully best. we have _ be calm and hopefully best. we have to — be calm and hopefully best. we have to keep going until he is here — have to keep going until he is here because i want to believe it is actually happening when i had him — it is actually happening when i had him with my own hands. you have been _ had him with my own hands. gm. have been waiting for news and you came here speaking to us this evening as we wait any moment for hamas to release

this list of the remaining 26 hostages due to release in this first phase. they are supposed to be seen whether these people are alive or dead including your brother. an incredibly difficult moment for you. i difficult moment for you. i keep saying that it is like a reality— keep saying that it is like a reality that the devil himself invented. that is how we feel, part— invented. that is how we feel, part of— invented. that is how we feel, part of an _ invented. that is how we feel, part of an evil reality show that — part of an evil reality show that hamas is enjoying. they will do — that hamas is enjoying. they will do everything to make us suffer— will do everything to make us suffer and i hope we will get this list— suffer and i hope we will get this list soon and we will know who— this list soon and we will know who is— this list soon and we will know who is alive and hopefully we can but — who is alive and hopefully we can put an end to it.- can put an end to it. your three and-year-old - can put an end to it. your i three and-year-old nephew, his three and—year—old nephew, his dad is taken hostage and mum is killed. people will want to know how is he possibly doing at this moment?—

at this moment? most of the time he is — at this moment? most of the time he is a _ at this moment? most of the time he is a normal- at this moment? most of the time he is a normal three i at this moment? most of the | time he is a normalthree and at this moment? most of the i time he is a normal three and a half year— time he is a normal three and a half year old boy. he is happy and enjoying himself, doing things— and enjoying himself, doing things he isn't supposed to do. but there — things he isn't supposed to do. but there are a lot of moments where — but there are a lot of moments where he — but there are a lot of moments where he misses them. whenever he sees _ where he misses them. whenever he sees a — where he misses them. whenever he sees a woman with long hair he sees a woman with long hair he asks — he sees a woman with long hair he asks if— he sees a woman with long hair he asks if she will pick him up because — he asks if she will pick him up because that is what his mum used — because that is what his mum used to— because that is what his mum used to do. he keeps asking if his father— used to do. he keeps asking if his father is really coming back— his father is really coming back and he cries when he sees parents — back and he cries when he sees parents coming to pick the kids from _ parents coming to pick the kids from kindergarten. he misses them~ — from kindergarten. he misses them he _ from kindergarten. he misses them. he misses his father and he wants— them. he misses his father and he wants to be a normal kid. thank— he wants to be a normal kid. thank you _ he wants to be a normal kid. thank you so much for talking to us this evening. the photograph of your brother is on your t—shirt there. i know you have got other people to speak to as part of your mission to keep the interest in the attention on the remaining hostages in gaza. that sets the tone for this evening's events.

there was greatjoy earlier today but also as we got a vivid illustration huge concern about those remaining hostages. think you, nick. nick in tel aviv there and yes, an anxious wait there for the families of the hostages still to be released. i will take you to southern israel to hear the hospital director. good evening. a short while ago we welcomed karina, daniela, liri and naama. i'm happy to report that their medical condition is stable and we are here to divide them with

medical support and emotional support. i had the honour of meeting them as they descended from the helicopter and i must say the excitement is overwhelming. i was amazed by their strength, these are resilient women who bravely survived long days of torment. they are here with are strong and remarkable. as expected, the prolonged captivity is evident to the specialised team who have prepared for this moment. we will consider to support them medically and emotionally. it is an immense privilege to meet these four brave women and be part of their healing process which is actually a part of the healing process of the entire israeli people. the emotional reunion with theirfamily was people. the emotional reunion with their family was a moment hard to describe in words.

tears ofjoy and hugs that melt hearts. the hospital teams around them and theirfamilies, providing the best medical care mental support. providing the best medical care mentalsupport. i providing the best medical care mental support. i want to thank all my colleagues at this health organisation who has been with us at every step of the way. all of the staff of all of the hospitals and the ministry of the idf we are fully committed to do everything with endless dedication to ensure that the physical and mental health while lovingly guiding them back to the families and israeli society. today, our heart and thoughts are still with the families of the remaining hostages waiting for their loved one. our mission will only be complete when everyone returns home. i would

like to end with a well—known hebrew saying that ——... toda roba. hebrew saying that --. .. toda roba. . ~ hebrew saying that --. .. toda roba. ., ~' ., roba. talking about her meeting with her -- _ roba. talking about her meeting with her -- mention _ roba. talking about her meeting with her -- mention that - roba. talking about her meeting with her -- mention that the i with her —— mention that the medical condition was stable but they will be provided with care and emotional support and ended by mentioning her thoughts were with the families of the remaining hostages and we heard from one of the family members of a remaining hostage who was speaking to our correspondent nick earlier at hostage square we will be returning to that because a rally is due to take place there are a bit later.

meanwhile, large number of palestinian prisoners have also begun arriving in ramallah in the west bank. our correspondentjon donnison was there as the buses arrived and sent this update. well, you can see the three prison buses behind me. about 20 minutes ago, those buses arrived and frankly, pretty chaotic scenes as the prisoners got off, a very large crowd and we saw the prisoners in their grey prison fatigues, many of them with shaved heads, long beards, a lot of them looking pretty thin. that has to be said. hoisted onto the shoulders, carried into the sports complex. behind me you can just see one now emerging there. a man in his 40s, i'd say, maybe his 50s, being carried out with a shaven head. and when they arrived, the scramble to get to their loved ones... i just saw one prisoner coming out on the shoulders, and what looked to be his young son was hoisted up and put into his arms.

now, the big difference in this prisoner exchange this week compared to last week is the people released today, many of them had been convicted of much more serious offences, including murder, killing israeli civilians. now, those convicted of the most serious offences, and i think there were 121 of the 200 serving life—sentences, they're going to be taken to egypt, as you say. they're there already, and they're going to be deported to countries including qatar and turkey. so the people here, and i think there's about 100 or so who've been brought here today, they will be allowed to return to their families, their homes in the west bank. many of them have been in prison for years. and it's really a big moment for palestinians here. the prisoner issue is a massive one. most families in the west bank will have had a family member or a friend who's been held in israeli prison at some point. and these images today, it has to be said, hamas will make hay from them because they'll say, look, we are the force that is getting our prisoners out. reporting from ramallah in the occupied west bank.

for more analysis i'm joined now by our middle east regional editor, sebastian usher. one key development that has been fast—moving is this key road that is blocked in gaza. the latest is that hamas says that israel is dragging its feet by blocking this access. that road was due to be open on sunday... that is what palestinians were expecting and thousands upon thousands were desperate to start going back to their homes or whatever is left of it. but also to look for the remains of some of their relatives who might be under the rubble still. they are there and you can imagine that that is a very fraught scene. you have israeli troops there who are trying to ensure that they don't move until they are allowed to and what is complicating it now is what we have had in the last few