Middle East: 3 Israeli, 5 Thai hostages released

Finally, after 484 long, terrifying days and nights, full of immense worry for our father, we can breathe again,

his family said in a statement released today by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum

The situation of the prisoners is very difficult and we hope for their urgent release,

he told AFP

The updated number of prisoners to be released tomorrow is 183,

the group's spokeswoman Amani Sarahneh said on Friday, after previously announcing that 90 would be freed

I just visited him behind the glass in Israeli prisons. I cannot express my feelings,

she said

The mediators informed Hamas of Israel's approval to open Rafah crossing tomorrow, Saturday, after the completion of the fourth batch of prisoner exchange,

a Hamas official told AFP

I hope you are dreaming at night of being with us, because it is going to happen soon... just stay strong.”

Five months ago, Gaya told i24

Their release today brings a ray of light in the darkness, offering hope and demonstrating the triumph of the human spirit,

the organization said in a statement

A short while ago, the returning civilian hostage, Keith Siegel, crossed the border into Israeli territory,

the IDF and IAF said in an announcement

This will be the first medical evacuation since the cease-fire began

he said, noting

Joseph E. Aounlebanese President

Egypt is very keen on confirming the need for a full and complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, without taking away a single inch of Lebanese sovereignty and territory."

Following talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Abdelatty told reporters

Gershon Baskinthe former israeli hostage negotiator

I think it's all on the shoulders of Trump,

Baskin told CBS News

Gershon Baskinthe former israeli hostage negotiator

Any deal that takes two or three months to end a war is a bad deal, because it can go off the rails at any point, and at any point either one of the sides can accuse the other of breaching,

Israeli analyst and former hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin told CBS News on Friday

Gershon Baskinthe former israeli hostage negotiator

We've already had mutual accusations of breach. Right now, both sides are interested in at least bringing this forward to the end of the 42 days

of phase ... Baskin said

What we hear from the Israeli side is that they will not end the war or withdraw from Gaza, and what we hear from Hamas is that there is no deal unless it ends the war and brings about an Israeli withdrawal,

he said

The government, together with all security agencies, will accompany them and their families,

the office said

The big day has come Shirkush,

Aviva says in a video posted on her daughter Shir’s Instagram account

The IDF is prepared to receive an additional hostage in the near future,

it said

Even though Israel claimed that Hamas has been destroyed, the scenes we have witnessed give you an idea that Hamas is still there,

he told Al Jazeera

There is almost nothing left of Gaza,

Witkoff told Axios, estimating that full reconstruction could take 10 to 15 years

Our Yarden is supposed to return tomorrow, and we are so excited, but Shiri and the children still haven't come home."

The Bibas family meanwhile wrote on Instagram