a very happy, very relieved omer shem tov there. s. ”tithe" w w'wgtthéaghrhg w w ' all be signing paperwork will all be signing paperwork now then given the red now and then given to the red cross. omerwenkert, now and then given to the red cross. omer wenkert, the man on the far right, there is a drone film in this. extraordinary affair that hamas on. omer on. 0mwer wenkert on the puts on. omer wenkert on the right, were pictures that right, there were piete�*res that of right, there were piete'res that of him being held half merge of him being held half naked his hands behind his naked with his hands behind his back as he was led gaza. we re were si-ns life were signs �* life that there were signs of life that his family, received but it been a beenwa terrible ww wbewwenww a ssh; owrwdeal ' w wbewwenw a téhrht; owrwdeal for has been a terrible ordeal for families waiting for this 504 w 501; days ww 501; days six ww eight and now a0 seconds minetes and now 14.9 seeends they seized. finally since they were seized. finally they seeing

. >> nick omer shem tov. >> yeah. and what can you tell us about this? e 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 the hostage before taken into captivity. and it's a marked contrast, as you would expect. uh, both these men, young men, um. al cohen, uh, 27 years old. uh omer shem tov. 22 years old. both seem to be, you know, they're they're in decent physical shape, but they clearly lost a lot of weight. uh. and this looks like omer wenkert. omer wenkert getting taken on the stage now. yeah, but he's looking a little weak. he's looking a little weak there. he's being shaken around, uh, by the guards. yeah, yeah. if you look at images of him, uh, before he was taken into captivity, he's lost a significant amount of weight. >> um. >> and they're also being given these un

of four additional hostages soon at a separate location. 27 year old eliya cohen, 22 year old omer shem tov, 23 year old omer wenkert venkat and 37 year old hisham al-sayed. more than 600 palestinian prisoners are expected to be released in return as part of the deal. let's go now to cnn's chief diplomatic editor, nic robertson, who is live in tel aviv, has been joining the crowds there who have been watching very closely the developments on the monitors you see behind. behind you. i wonder if you could just remind us what you saw just a few moments ago when we witnessed those two, those first two hostages be handed over officially to the red cross and out of the control of hamas. >> yeah. let me just tell you what we've got on the screen behind us right now. this is the family of a celebrating singing. you know, he was just five. he's 39 now, 39. he's been held for 11 years. he was five years old when his family moved from ethiopia. and we just heard them singing songs there. and celebration of his release. it's kind of uplifting and i think the crowd gets that here. there will be more of

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

an eruption of cheers as family members celebrate the release of their loved one, omer shem tov. this is the scene live at ofer prison in israel, where more than 600 palestinian prisoners are to be in other news, us president trump fires senior officials at the pentagon, including the highest—ranking military officer and the first woman to lead the us navy. and the final day of campaigning is under way in germany ahead of a general election on sunday. have been taking to voters the last minutes we begin in the middle east with these live pictures from ofer prison, in the occupied west ban, release 602 palestinian prisoners and detainees. then just over an hour ago, there was another release to the red cross, this time in nuseirat. also now in the hands of the israeli military. one more hostage is expected to be released today — hisham al—sayed — he will be released without a public the idf says hamas wouldn't hold their ceremony in respect for the bedouin—israeli community. earlier this week was not that of shiri bibas, as they had claimed. by hamas on friday is hers. this is liv

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

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

freed hostage omer shem tov said he had dreamt of this moment. >> i cannot believe.he two other hostages released today had been held by hamas for about a decade after they crossed into gaza on their own. their families said they suffered from mental health issues. as part of the ceasefire agreement, israel was to release more than 600 palestinian prisoners, but the exchange has been delayed without explanation. tensions mounted this week when hamas handed over the wrong body for shiri bibas, an israeli mother adbucted with her two young sons. on friday, hamas handed over another set of remains that israel has confirmed are hers. pope francis is in critical condition after suffering a long asthmatic respiratory crisis. the vatican said the 88-year old was in more pain today and had to be given supplemental oxygen and blood transufusions. the pontiff entered the hospital a week ago with bronchitis, and then developed pneumonia. doctors say pope francis is not out of danger and faces the risk of developing sepsis. outside the hospital members of the church and the fait

boys were, in fact, murdered. this morning to mark the release of six eliya cohen, tal shoham, omer shem tovnd 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 the hamas statement said it

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

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

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, 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

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

eliya cohen, followed by omer shem tov and omer wenkert, all three of them noticeably thinner, paradedhamas's last scheduled public planned live and over, away from the cameras, hisham al-sayed, hostage for a decade to ill for the stage, quietly handed over to. as their families began celebrations. each of the hostage releases bringing hope to those still waiting. uriel alexander, mother of edan, the last living american hostage, still held by hamas. >> we heard a lot of stories that edan 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. frustrations mounting through the evening. >> i have been sitting here waiting for my son since noon, and i still don't know if they will bring him or not. i will stay here waiti

among those released a man named omer shem tov scene, kissing the head of a hamas hosier while on stage during his release. his father later told reporters that his son had been and then not compelled to do that by hamas. israel's prime minister posted video showing toes family watching his helicopter land and running too, embrace him. also released a man who had been in captivity more than 10 years and ethiopian born israeli. he had been captured by hamas and 2014, a crossing into gaza from israel. local media reports say that he's had mental health problems that might have led to the unauthorized border crossing phase 2 of the cease-fire deal. meantime, remains very uncertain, not clear whether any serious talks have started. pope francis remains in critical condition in rome after what doctors describe as a long asthmatic respiratory crisis today he had to get oxygen, blood transfusions today. he's being treated for pneumonia and what they call it complex, lung infection. now communities across the world are sending him wishes for recovery. reporter emmy victor has the story. >> and

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

omer shem tov is a hostage that lives in my neighborhood. he was one of three that were taken from the nova that live nearby. and to see his parents finally hug him today is something that we're all waiting for. for 505 days. >> do you feel like you're reliving it? you're reliving your own family's experience every time there is a hostage release or a return of bodies. >> absolutely. it feels so hard and and yet so hopeful to wake up every saturday morning knowing that somebody else is going to get that moment where you finally get to see your family member and this awful parade of this ceremony that hamas is putting on. but know that within moments they will be moved to the red cross and then back into israel, and that they will get to hug their family that they haven't seen in so long. we can only hope that the second part of this deal continues, and that the 24 that are alive come home to their families and that those families get this moment. >> mm. i want to play some play a statement now, coming from the family of the two small childre

of israeli hostages who have been held in captivity in gaza, more have just been eliya cohen, omer shem tov the hostages led to 7 led to after 7 led to after they 7 led to after they have 7 led to after they have be77en are led ts aftertheg heee been; l ll l ll ll ll l l into red are led te attertheyr heee been; l ll l ll ll ll l l into red vehicles, we have seen this which we have seen this” at various stages in morning, at various stages in there were two locations hostage releases. in nuseirat, we 77777the7iit7>7stages 7 7 7 the hostages on stage, saw the hostages on stage, paraded by hamas with all 7 and and armed gunmen, paraphernalia and armed gunmen, and they have now been put into 7715131115757 77 vehicles and are 7 fairlie; and7are7 héédifig 77poin7t77. towards that handover paint. show towards that handover point. show you again, let's let's show you again, let's remind you of scene when remind you of the scene when two other hostages, tal shoham and avera mengistu, were released in the town of rafah. this is then being led to the cross vehicles, they were red cross vehicles, they

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

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