is led square as eliya cohen is led off by fighters hamas. off by fighters from hamas.d. that they'a’re'" " much present, eetside werld. that theya’re'" " much present, that still very much present, that they are the dominant politioal there in gaza in really iggce there in gaza in really of gaza. posing the wasteland of gaza. posing for photos. this also staged for photos. this is also staged in such a stage—managed affair. cheer coming up, the chance the cheer coming up, the chance coming up from hostages square now! now! and by how is now! now! sick and by how this is all done, the stage—managed process that won a weewkly basis, i see on a weekly basis, i think there are basically second on. as the there are basically second on as the four thursday as the four coffins paraded in the same very were paraded in the same very despite calls iei —:|e|t: 0-— red w for it to red for it to be the red cross for it to be and private and away §-==t w the media glare. they too from the media glare. they too were paraded. you see the were earaded. there voei see the .. . .. . of t

eliya cohen there on stage.d for nick. >> what can. >> you looking before the pictures of him before he was taken into captivity? he's lost a lot of weight. >> and, nick, i just want to bring attention to our viewers as we see eliya cohen there on stage. the other side of our screen is his family, who have been waiting for this moment. they're all dressed in white, uh, shaking hands, smiling, still looking very somber as you can imagine, seeing the condition of their loved one that they haven't seen for so long. and we're seeing another hostage there walking up as we, uh, as we show you these pictures, like. >> nick omer shem tov. >> yeah. and what can you tell us about this? these two who are being released right now. >> so we're just seeing omar. omar omer shem tov being brought to the stage. uh, on the screen we have here that the crowd behind me are watching. they have a split screen here of the before and after, if you will. they're seeing the live hostage release and the image omer shem tov the image of th

eliya cohen 27 years old. he went to the nova music festival with his fiance. uh, she took along with them as well, her nephew and the nephew's girlfriend. uh, when, uh, elio was taken hostage, uh, hamas was opening up with gunfire, and ziv literally hid under the bodies of her nephew and the nephew's girlfriend, who was killed, shot dead in front of him. she has been campaigning so hard for his release. um, obviously a very big day. understatement, right. uh, ahead for her. uh omer shem tov. um, his. he went with two friends to the festival. they were kidnaped as well. taken hostage by hamas. they were released in the early phases of the release. so one of them injured quite badly. uh, omer pete koukov, he, um, you know, went as well to the nova music festival. their families obviously waiting to see them and and the other long term hostage as well, held for ten years. hisham al-sayed his he was held since 2015. so his family too waiting for his release expected to happen in the coming coming couple of hours. the location for that we understand is nusseirat, w

in nuseirat. 27 year old eliya cohen, 22 year old omer shem tov, 23 year old omer wenkert and 37 year old hisham al-sayed. more than 600 palestinian prisoners are expected in return. i want to go now to cnn chief diplomatic editor nic robertson, live in tel aviv. nic, so as we wait for the second hostage handover today, take us through what we've seen so far and what we're expecting. >> to. >> yeah. tal shoham and a avera mengistu handed over. both are taken to the stage, as we've seen with previous hostages. they were both shaky, both looking like they'd lost weight 505 days in captivity for tal shoham and more than 11 years for avera mengistu handed off to the red cross vehicles, beginning their path to freedom, handed off to the idf. we have heard from tal shoham family already saying absolutely every emotion overflowing at the moment. so grateful for everyone that has helped bring about this moment. but the weight is now on for those other four hostages. the focus on another location further north in gaza, in nusseirat. that's sort of two thirds of the way north, if you will, in i

eliya cohen, omer shem tov and omer wenkert were also handed over.se are pictures of two of the hostages, reuniting the first was omer wenkert who was taken hostage mengistu, who had been held in gaza since 2014. the final hostage to be released today was hisham al—sayed who was handed over privately in gaza city. this is a photojust released by hamas. the idf says he went to hospital by helicopter, accompanied by his family. earlier this week was not that of shiri bibas, as they had claimed. herfamily has since said a new body handed paul adams has the latest. six more hostages home alive. in gaza, more choreographed displays of defiance and firepower as the hostages emerged for the first time. two others held for a decade. from the same house — tal the last to return. at kibbutz be�*eri, close to gaza, the house and they were all hamas gunmen killed over 100 kibbutz members here, but in a place famously full of peaceniks, ayelet dares to hope for a betterfuture. stay and live in gaza. so you can imagine a situation in which you live yes, i'm going

they are, from top left, eliya cohen, omer shem tov, and avera mengisto. adviser to the un, and the author. vit 7 it was a 7 it was a mistake 7 it wasra mistake it hamas says it was a mistake it made, how do believe i cannot see how it is in that? i ejf�*figt egg iiiiiii it i; iii that? i eflflgt egg ii'giii it i; iii to do this their interests te ee this? , , . know well that israel would forensic tests on the conduct forensic tests on the body and would quite — quickly 7—77, it was 7 it was not the 7 7 it was not the person? 7 purported lot the person? 7 purported to the person? j purported to be, person: 7 purported to be, so rsonr 7 purported to be, so itanr they purported to be, so it could be genuine mistake that has been made here. it sounded cliche to say _ has been made here. it sounded cliche to say these _ has been made here. it sounded cliche to say these are _ cliche to say these are delicate negotiations, they e5; ;%7 very very fragile. is really are very fragile. is there a risk here that the tiny bits of trust there is israeli government and . isfaeli governmentand the the isr

eliya cohen, omer shem tov and omer wenkert who were transferred into the hands of the israeli militaryuniting with their families. and the second was avera the final hostage to be released without a public ceremony in gaza city. by his family. it comes after israel said a body returned by hamas claimed — herfamily has since said a new body handed who's in hostages square in tel aviv. a very emotional day where you are, mark? a very emotional day where you are. mark? _ are, mark? indeed. there were re are, mark? indeed. there were pretty _ here - are, mark? indeed. there were pretty _ here on - m suare watchin sc uare watchin . that bgfhigdure r which i- that bgfhigdure r which showed screen behind me which showed the pictures of very show ze- stage s—hew—byrhamas that we seen on stage s—hew—hyrharhas that we seen on a basis have seen on a weekly basis with images from another world, a 77 beamed 7 a 77 beamed into here in a sense, beamed into here in tel aviv. the of tel aviv. the wasteland of gaza where were where those hostages were released in a show where hamas fighters surrounded t

eliya cohen, omer shem tov and omer wenkert who are also now in the hands of the israeli military. final hostage to be released today is hisham minutes he was handed over without a public ceremony in gaza city. earlier this week was not that of shiri bibas, as they had over by hamas on friday is hers. gathered to watch the releases in a location that's become known as hostages square. the gaza ceasefire deal. let's speak to sebastian usher injerusalem. isa is a lot to get through. first of let's talk m— what we are about to see which is the release of more than 600 who have been palestinians who have been detained by that “happening happenirigiizn; 7 ”is happening in the 7 happening in the next few is happening in the next few minutes, is it? we is happening in the next few minutes, is it?— minutes, is it? we are expecting _ minutes, is it? we are expecting l to - minutes, is it? we are expecting l to come, | minutes, is it? we are - expecting l to come, certainly 7, the next 7 the next few 7 the next few hours, 7 has been slightly has compared tly delayed” 7 7 7 7 has compared to

forgiveness for abandoning them boys were, in fact, murdered. this morning to mark the release of six eliya cohental shoham, omer shem tov and omer wenkert. the two others to be freed have been held and avera mengistu. they will be exchanged for more than 600 palestinian prisoners. simon jones, bbc news. with me is said shehata, from bbc arabic. wi it me is said shehata, wi it does. said shehata, wi it does look shehata, wi it does look like hata, wi it does look like it |ta, wi it does look like it |ti the from of c arabic. wi it does look like it |ti the from of c ari bibas that bodyof shiri bibas that hamas over. handed over. good news, because esterda handed over. good news, because yesterday when — handed over. good news, because yesterday when we _ handed over. good news, because yesterday when we talked - i’ow row about 5 row about it and the the row about it and the israeli anger about the body 7—, not belonging to shiri was not belonging to shiri bibas, i said was not belonging to shiri bibas, isaid it was not belonging to shiri bibas, i said it was a mistake. and the hamas said it and t

first in rafah, two hostages, tal shoham and avera mengistu, eliya cohen, omer shem tov and omer wenkert were also handed over. these are pictures of two of the hostages, reuniting with theirfamilies. the first was omer wenkert, who was taken hostage the final hostage to be released today was hisham accompanied by his family. over by hamas on friday is hers. at the end of a week full of despair and uncertainty... ..an outpouring of relief and joy. israelis celebrating as the ceasefire deal brings six more hostages home alive. others held for a decade. from the same house. tal, the last to return. the long, agonising wait finally overfor his at kibbutz be'eri, close to gaza, the house where tal was taken. and they were all kidnapped from here? be'eri is a place full of scars and ghosts. hamas gunmen killed over 100 kibbutz members here, but in a place famously full of peaceniks, ayelet dares to hope for a betterfuture. the population of people who live in gaza should so you can imagine a situation in which you live i'm not going to go anywhere else. and not fighting about it. deal should

next, three israelis in their 20's, eliya cohen, omer shem tov and omer wenkert grabbed from the music festival on that same terrible day and another terror photo opportunity. all looked thinner and showed some signs of illness in the past and 36-year-old hisham al-sayed having also been held captive for a decade after he, too, crossed into gaza. the freed hostages brought to the idf and israel all reuniting with close family members, all now at hospital here in tel aviv. set to be exchanged for these after a security assessment by israel, some 600 palestinian prisoners. across israel today, israelis celebrated amidst sadness, four will be released next week and then some 60 held my hamas and shiri bibas and two young sons has been handed over. an unknown woman had been brought back with the children. the bibas family saying today shiri was returned home. you're right, brian, the first phase of the cease-fire agreement is set to end in the coming week. talks for the d decisive second phase with a lot of lives at risk. bryan: greg, live from tel aviv. thank you. what's next as the phase

eliya cohen, omer shem tov, tal shoham, omer wenkert, hisham al sayed, and avera mengistu, all of themby masked hamas gunmen and israel releasing hundreds of palestinian prisoners as phase one of the cease-fire deal nears its end. negotiations for phase two expected to begin in the coming days. the fragile deal almost breaking down on thursday after hamas failed to release the body of shiri bibas handing over the body of a gazan woman instead. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu vowing revenge. hamas quickly releasing another body overnight, israeli forensics confirming the remains are shiri's. the remains of the two bibas boys released earlier this week. the idf saying forensics show 4-year-old ariel and 8-month-old kfir were deliberately killed by hamas. hamas blames israeli air strikes. earlier this week, four bombs planted in buses in central israel, no one was injured. but the attack coming in apparent response to the idf's ongoing operations in the west bank. and negotiations to begin phase two are set to begin next week. if they are successful we could see the release of a

, a different day for the families of those six israeli hostages held by hamas, and one of them eliya cohen coming back to what can only be described as an amazing homecoming. he had gone to the nova music festival, where he was, where he was taken hostage with his fiancee, ziv. ziv survived the shooting there by hiding under the bodies of. unfortunately, her nephew and her nephew's girlfriend, who had gone there with them. she hid. now al-sharaa thought she was dead. so when he came back today, to his obvious amazement, she was alive. so an amazing homecoming. there i was talking as well to the mother of the only living american hostage being still held by hamas about her hopes for getting her son back. and this is what she told me. >> we don't know. we supposed to be in the phase two. that's why we all need to push for having the phase two. there is more than dozens of young men. they are waiting to be released. we know our son iran is alive and is waiting to be released. i'm just hoping that he's staying strong and surviving and his day will come. >> and what have you heard about him? ab

eliya cohen omer shem tov and omar. witkin. he also released. they're also taken up on stage. also looking way, way, way thinner than when they were taken into captivity. but what the what? the crowd here really loves and gets uplifted by is when the cameras on the big screen cut to the families who are celebrating. and we're seeing that today so much celebration. we've seen tears, we've seen singing, we've seen jumping for joy. all the gamut of emotions and some of those reunions for those first two releases already happening, and the others soon to be in the arms again of their loved ones. >> all right. nic robertson, reporting from hostages square there as the last living hostages handed over in phase one. thanks so much. so new this morning, the government purge continues. this time it's at the pentagon. officials announced friday the pentagon will ultimately fire 5 to 8% of the civilian workforce there, starting with about 5400 probationary workers next week. and two of the country's top military leaders. they're already gone. cnn's oren liebermann explains it for us. ore

next, three israelis in their 20's, eliya cohen, omer shem tov, and omer wenkert. grabbed by hamas at the music festival on that same terrible day. in a terrorist photo opportunity at another gaza location, all looked thinner and showed some signs of illness endured. as well as 36-year-old hisham al-sayed released, having also been held captive for a decade after he, too, crossed into gaza. the freed hostages, mike, were brought to the idf and israel can choppered to a hospital in tel aviv reunited with close families, and one of the younger hostages said he fancied is burger. set for these after the security meeting tonight, 600 palestinian prisoners. across this day, people celebrated amid sadness four more deceased hostages are planned for the coming week and after that some 60 alive and dead will still be held by hamas. as the body of shiri bibas, the mother of two young sons, symbols of this hostage terror has now been handed over for hamas. an unknown woman had been brought back with the children earlier. the bibas family saying, shiri was returned home. mike

eliya cohen, followed by omer shem tov and omer wenkert, all three of them noticeably thinner, paraded in hamas's last scheduled public planned live handover away from the cameras. hisham al-sayed, hostage for a decade, too ill for the stage, quietly handed over to. as their families began celebrations. each of the hostage releases bringing hope to those still waiting. yehiel alexander, mother of idan, the last living american hostage still held by hamas. >> we heard a lot of stories that idan. >> was standing. >> up for. >> people and. >> trying to help. >> them. >> and they gave us a lot. >> of strength. to continue to do the fight. >> and to. >> make sure that every american understands that there is still one american hostage in gaza, and he is. >> alive. >> families of palestinian prisoners and detainees kept waiting for their loved ones, while the israeli prime minister held a security consultation, a violation of the agreement, according to hamas. the moments of reflection this day, too, for those israeli hostages who didn't make it home alive. the bibas family and oded lifshitz

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cohen, omer shem tov eliya cohen, qmerrshem igv and al—sayed. as in the hisham al—sayed.in the previous exchanges, we got previous exchanges, we have got scene where crowds are the scene where crowds are present is much i’éiég); by hamas as j by hamas as an opportunity seen b'fhafiésas an eppgrtunity the eeen �*e-fihefieeee é?! eppertenity the strength to demonstrate the strength despite 15 months of war, were their strength has very 7 3&5}-.- 7 fandalsioth’eir assassinated. in assassinated. in at assassinated. in at these ;sinated. in at these hostage they in at these hostage exchange situations continue to exchange situationsecantirmeete to exchange situationsecentirmeete to try exchange situationsecentiruaeete to try to project continue to try to project their force with armed fighters to 77 to hand 77 to hand over 77 to hand over the 77 to hand over the hostages ready to hand over the hostages the red cross. tal wenkert were by gunmen on october 7, 7 hamas gunmen on october 7, 2023. hisham al—sayed and avera eeea. hiehem elée�*gee end efer’e gets to eeee. hiehenn elfde�*

then, just over an hour ago, there was another release eliya cohen, omer shem tov and omer wenkert, of israeli military and intelligence services. the last of the six to be freed today, it comes after israel said a body returned by hamas earlier this week was not that of shiri bibas, as they had claimed. her family has since said a new body handed over this is live in tel aviv, where a large crowd has gathered to watch the releases in a location that's become this is final part of the first phase of let's speak to yossi mekelberg, senior associate fellow at chatham house. at chat very -iouse. at chat very much. at chat very much for being with us, a pretty stage—managed affair once again us, a pretty stage-managed affair once agair_ us, a pretty stage-managed affair once agai $7? on h affair once agai $7? on um affair once agai $7? on fighters on show, a big stage the handover, did you of j of it? 7 make of it? good afternoon, thank you — make of it? good afternoon, thank you for _ make of it? good afternoon, thank you for having me. - make of it? good afternoon, thank you for having m