Second captive-prisoner swap taking place under first phase of Gaza ceasefire agreement.

For the crowds of hamas fighters and civilians gathered in a central Gaza square to witness the handover of four Israeli soldiers held captive for 15 months, the atmosphere was one of triumph and jubilation.

Hundreds of people gathered on the piles of rubble in Palestine Square, Gaza City, among flags of Palestinian militant groups, to watch a painstaking hostage handover, while in Tel Aviv crowds of Israelis gathered in suspense.

The four Israeli soldiers – Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag – briefly walked on to a podium in khaki military fatigues, smiling and holding hands, their long hair pulled into neat shiny ponytails. Two raised their hands to give a thumbs up towards the cheering crowds, before the group climbed into cars from the International Committee of the Red Cross to be driven out of Gaza.

In Tel Aviv, the families of Israelis who remain captive in Gaza flocked to a central square alongside their supporters to watch live footage of the handover, some weeping with joy and cheering. A few waved Israeli flags, while others held pictures of female Israeli soldiers and other captives expected to be released. Video released of the soldiers’ families watching the handover at a military base showed them shrieking with joy.

Lines of masked, uniformed fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – groups that hold people taken hostage on 7 October 2023 – flanked the square in central Gaza City, with Palestinian flags strung overhead. A woman threw confetti over the crowds of militants in celebration.