Palestinian group Hamas on Monday handed over seven Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a move confirmed by the Israeli military.

Meanwhile, large crowds gathered in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where dozens of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons are expected to arrive at the Nasser Medical Complex.

The Israeli military said the seven freed hostages have reached its custody and will undergo initial medical evaluations.

“We are prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be handed over to the Red Cross later,” an army statement added.

According to Israel’s foreign ministry, those freed include Matan Angrest, Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Zeev Berman, Omri Miran, Elon Ohiel, and Guy Gilboa Dalal.

The Israeli army shared images of the freed hostages on social media, writing: “After 738 days in captivity in Gaza, Matan, Gali, Zeev, Elon, Eitan, Omri, and Guy are coming home.”

Officials confirmed that the release process began early Monday but cautioned that “the bodies of all deceased hostages will not be returned today.”

Hamas releases list of 20 hostages freed

Hamas has also released a list of 20 hostages freed under the deal. The names include Bar Kopristin, Eviatar David, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Segiv Kalfon, Evyatan and Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zangauker, David Kanyo, Eitan Horn, Matan Angrest, Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Zeev Berman, Omri Miran, Elon Ohiel, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Rom Braslavsky, and Ariel Konio.

An Israeli government spokesperson confirmed that an international body will be established to help locate and recover the remains of missing persons.

Preparations for the exchange were underway at Red Cross centres across Gaza, with ICRC buses arriving in Deir Al Balah to collect the Israeli hostages from Hamas custody.

In return, Israel is set to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

According to sources, Hamas had been holding 48 Israeli hostages in Gaza for the past two years.

Of these, 20 are confirmed to be alive, while Israeli authorities have already declared 26 dead.

Some were killed during the October 7, 2023, attack, while others reportedly died in Israeli air strikes or captivity.

Hamas sources said the bodies of some hostages were temporarily buried at different sites across Gaza, and identifying all locations will take time.

A special UN-Red Cross task force is being formed to assist in the process.

Palestinian prisoners set to be freed

Parallel to the hostage release, Israel is also set to free a large number of Palestinian detainees.

The list includes around 1,700 Palestinians arrested from Gaza and classified by the UN as “forcibly disappeared.”

In addition, 250 prisoners serving life or long-term sentences are to be released — 135 will be sent to Gaza or abroad, 100 to the West Bank, and 15 to East Jerusalem.

Before the exchange, detainees have been moved to Israel’s Ketziot Prison in the Negev and Ofer Prison near Ramallah for formal processing.

Gaza death toll continues to climb

Meanwhile, in post-war Gaza, recovery operations continued as bodies were pulled from the rubble.

Local authorities said that 124 more bodies were recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 67,806, with 170,066 reported injured.

Eyewitnesses reported that human remains are still being discovered in northern and central Gaza.

Aid organisations say rescue efforts face severe challenges as hundreds remain missing beneath collapsed buildings.