released, along with 21—year—old maya regev. and adi shoham aged 38, who was kidnapped from kibbutz be�*eri during a visit with five other members of the family. this is her son, 8—year—old nave. and her 3—year—old daughter, gani yahel, who are also now arriving home. the hostages were released in exchange for a group of palestinian prisoners from israeli jails — also all women and children. here they are being welcomed back in the west bank. now, there had been fears the deal was off after hamas accused israel of reneging on the temporary ceasefire agreement, by not allowing enough aid trucks into gaza. that led to a delay of several hours. let's get more from our middle east correspondent tom bateman. tom, just to start, what is the latest we know about the situation in terms of this exchange between these hostages and prisoners? that transfer now is well under way with 13 israelis back on israeli soil and due to be taken to hospitals where they will be reunited with their loved ones. asimilar a similar procedure to last night, but this is much, much later in the day, of course, because of that significant delay. but 13 — and you mentioned some of the names and faces that we saw there — eight of them children, five women. among the 13, you have more than one person from four different families. so these will be moments, of course, where those — where those — the rest of the families and members of them will be able to be reunited, finally, with their loved ones, after that close—to—50 days of not knowing. and i mentioned the delay. you know, that has been quite significant today, because here we are at day two of this truce agreement between israel and hamas, mediated by qatar. the egyptians involved as well. and what we saw was at 4pm local time, which is the agreed time for hamas to hand the hostages to the red cross in the gaza strip, that hour came and went, and there was no news. it became clear within a couple of hours that there was a hitch. we had the armed wing of hamas accusing the israelis of reneging on part of the deal. they claimed the israelis had not allowed the agreed amount of aid deliveries, aid supplies that we're now getting into the south of the gaza strip, a certain amount into the north that, under the arrangement, they were supposed to do. they said that was therefore preventing them from releasing the hostages. now, the israelis categorically denied this. they said they co—ordinated the aid going into the north, but everything else to do with it was the responsibility of the united nations, of aid groups, so they couldn't be blamed, they were suggesting, for the numbers of trucks involved. but whatever the problem, it seemed to be smoothed over, because within several hours, albeit seven hours after it was supposed to happen, we then got the news that hamas had released the hostages into the hands of the red cross. they were then taken to the rafah crossing and into egypt. the other part of the agreement was that three times the number of palestinian prisoners held by israel would be released. we saw that happen with the israelis releasing 39 palestinians. qatar says that was 33 children, six women, and they were then released and many of those have now been taken in coaches to the occupied west bank, where there have been celebrations around their release. and you know, tom, just talking about those who have been released, here, it is women and children, isn't it? because those are the terms of the exchange between hostages and prisoners. and although we saw some family members actually being released together, there also could be some instances, of course, where families actually have to be split up, when they're released? yes, that's right. i mean, the entire scope of this agreement is around women and children. that was what was mediated by qatar, and it's thought there is around 100 women and children among the 240 or so hostages being held by hamas in gaza. we're talking about civilian women and children, because there may be women soldiers, for example, being held, and they wouldn't come the scope of this arrangement between israel and hamas. so that 100 number is why we have seen the possibility that this agreement could be extended over the course of around nine days. there releasing them at the rate of — so far we have had 13 per day. so it would take up to nine days if you would get 100 women and children released. the agreement said there would be an agreed truce for four days. that is to potentially allow for 50 israeli hostages, women and children, to be released — 150 palestinians to be released by the israelis. but it contains what has been described to me as "an option to extend". so you would have each day the possibility that a further ten, 11, 12 hostages could be released by hamas in return for 30 or so palestinian prisoners to be released, and another 2a hours of ceasefire. what we had earlier today was the egyptians, in the middle of all this, where we had this delay, the egyptians saying that things seemed on track to extend after the four days for another day or two of the truce. the israelis seemed pretty quick to jump on that, according to israeli media, saying that hadn't been agreed at all. and if there is to be an extension of the four days, that is something that would only be confirmed on the final day, on the fourth day, itself, and in the hours running up to the next part of this agreement. we saw them two days now of — despite, of course, the delay — rather successful exchanges, here. do you think that could lay the groundwork for, as you mentioned, potential future days of future exchanges, as these two sides try to get closer to the numbers of 50 and 150? well, i think that becomes an increasingly important question, because we are now getting towards halfway through the agreed four—day truce, and so far, despite the hitches, it has gone pretty much to plan. that is going to be important to qatar, which mediated this. my sense is what the mediators are trying to do is to build the groundwork under this to sort of solidify it and to deepen it into a longer lasting truce, into a longer lasting ceasefire. at the same time, you have increasing noises from the us, from western countries, about their concerns, about the civilian death toll, and in all of this, for example, we had foreign secretary david cameron, in a visit to the region, over the last 48 hours, raising the issue, saying too many civilians were dying. so that's creating a form of pressure. now, israel has made it clear that it sees this truce purely in terms of getting hostages released, and at the end of that — and at the end of that period, it will return to a full state of war with hamas and its stated goal of the elimination of hamas. but i think you are beginning to see attention that is being played out more and more in public, with arab countries saying that this should be extended, this should become a more durable ceasefire. the israelis — it was interesting, quickly, i think theyjumped on the report, today, to say "no way have we agreed to extending even beyond the four days at this stage — that is all at the moment, that will be done later, later on." don't forget hamas have also said during the course of this, during truce, that in their words, theirfinger remains on the trigger. so you have the two sides in this very much prepared return to the fighting, once they get this objective for both of them out of the way, potentially up to 100 hostages released, as far as israel is concerned, potentially up to 300 palestinian prisoners released, as far as hamas is concerned. 0ur middle east correspondent tom bateman injerusalem for us. thank you for your reporting. joining me now is 0mer lubaton granot. four of his family members were kidnapped during hamas�* attack on israel on october 7. he's been following the hostage release closely. thank you for taking the time to speak with us tonight. i guess my first question is how you feeling, now second group of israeli hostages released and now making their way back towards their families? we and now making their way back towards their families?- towards their families? we are thrilled, of _ towards their families? we are thrilled, of course. _ towards their families? we are thrilled, of course. it - towards their families? we are thrilled, of course. it is - towards their families? we are thrilled, of course. it is a - thrilled, of course. it is a very, very happy days, and it is good news that all of our nation, you know, it needed it, after six very long weeks, to see the smiles of these kids, to see their hugs and their reuniting with their parents that were waiting here. it — it's amazing. it is a great feeling and we hope to see more of them coming. we really want to see this deal getting complete and to see how we get other deals to bring all of the hostages home. i other deals to bring all of the hostages home.— hostages home. i think, you know, hostages home. i think, you know. this _ hostages home. i think, you know, this might _ hostages home. i think, you know, this might be - hostages home. i think, you know, this might be a - hostages home. i think, you i know, this might be a difficult question for you to answer, but does what we have been seeing and does tonight's release of hostages give you hope for your relatives, who are still in captivity? £31 relatives, who are still in captivity?— captivity? of course, of course- _ captivity? of course, of course. our— captivity? of course, of course. our relatives, i captivity? of course, of. course. our relatives, you course. 0ur relatives, you know, the people that are on the list are mostly women and children. my cousin shem was captured with her children, 17, 11, nine. 0n the same day, she suffered so much loss. her husband was murdered, hurled it daughter was murdered. their house was burnt. we really had to get some good news, and to understand that they will be among the list in the next days and we're just waiting, hopefully, trying to understand if it is going to happen. henge if it is going to happen. have ou if it is going to happen. have you received _ if it is going to happen. have you received any _ if it is going to happen. have you received any updates - if it is going to happen. have you received any updates on | if it is going to happen. have you received any updates on the situation of your family and loved ones, as all? we don't. unfortunately _ loved ones, as all? we don't. unfortunately not. _ loved ones, as all? we don't. unfortunately not. i - loved ones, as all? we don't. unfortunately not. i know- loved ones, as all? we don't. | unfortunately not. i know that ou unfortunately not. i know that you leave _ unfortunately not. i know that you leave the _ unfortunately not. i know that you leave the hostages - unfortunately not. i know that you leave the hostages and i you leave the hostages and families former new york. have you been speaking to other families in a similar situation? what have they told you? situation? what have they told ou? ~ , , ~ you? we did. it seems like - everyone _ you? we did. it seems like - everyone is— you? we did. it seems like - everyone is in _ you? we did. it seems like - everyone is in the _ you? we did. it seems like - everyone is in the same - everyone is in the same situation, now, because they are sick waiting. the different families that got part of their hostages back, they still have others that are inside. we see that hamas is separating families again, leaving the fathers behind, living their uncles behind, leaving — to date even split a child from its mother. so there is still a lot of tension and people are trying to see what is going on, but so far i think besides those who arrived home today, it seems everyone is in decent condition, not good, but not bad, and it is very relieving to think that they were together, they are ok, as much as possible, and i think that we are also trying to understand what we should do in order to get them back into normal life as much as possible. normal life as much as possible-— possible. the israeli government - possible. the israeli government has - possible. the israeli| government has said possible. the israeli - government has said that it expects to continue its assaults on gaza after this temporary ceasefire ends. is that something that you and your organisation would support if there are still hostages remaining, once these four or so days of ceasefire and? what is the other— so days of ceasefire and? what is the other option? _ so days of ceasefire and? what is the other option? if - so days of ceasefire and? what is the other option? if this - so days of ceasefire and? what is the other option? if this is i is the other option? if this is wire will continue, do you think hamas will open the gates and let the people go? what is the other option? the fact that we got this deal at this price that we give them, 150 convicted terrorists for children and innocent people, it was because israel and the us applied a lot of pressure on us, whether it is by military means, to permit it means, or economic means, it doesn't matter. they did what they needed to do to bring back hostages and in order to fight a horrific terror organisation. we won't see those fathers coming back home, we won't see young people who are just dancing at a party coming back home. what's the option? what can we do, if not continuing to fight hamas? it can we do, if not continuing to fight hamas?— fight hamas? it must be extremely _ fight hamas? it must be extremely difficult - fight hamas? it must be extremely difficult to - fight hamas? it must be| extremely difficult to just wait for word about your family members. how do you deal with that? what do you do as you continue to wait now? is it just a matter of checking your phone for updates? {iii just a matter of checking your phone for updates? of course, we do that _ phone for updates? of course, we do that a — phone for updates? of course, we do that a lot _ phone for updates? of course, we do that a lot in _ phone for updates? of course, we do that a lot in these - phone for updates? of course, we do that a lot in these kind l we do that a lot in these kind of days. i think the families here in new york and branches all over the world and, of course, our headquarters in israel, there is a very strong community, there is a lot of support from thejewish support from the jewish community, the support from thejewish community, the american community, the american community, and i think we are all united behind this cause and it gives us strength and we are busy, which is good, and we are busy, which is good, and we are trying to do the best weekend to reach out the community, to reach out to public officials, to interact with international organisations, so when you're busy, it's easier, i think. 0mer, whose family was kidnapped during the attack by hamas on october seven, also the founder of the hostages and missing families forum in new york, we thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us, given the circumstances. thank you, carl. well, for the families of the hostages released on friday, there were reunions like this. a 9—year—old israeli boy, his mother and grandmother all now free. and in the west bank, 17—year—old palestinianjamal barahmeh celebrated his release from an israeli jail. here's what he told reporters there. translation: ican'tj even describe my joy. we were released at five in the morning but we didn't know why until now. we were told there was a prisoner swap deal. may all the prisoners be released soon. ~ , ., all the prisoners be released soon. ~ ,, ., , all the prisoners be released soon. ~ , ., . , yes, soon. were you assaulted? yes, es. soon. were you assaulted? yes, yes- every _ soon. were you assaulted? yes, yes- every day. _ soon. were you assaulted? yes, yes- every day. we _ soon. were you assaulted? yes, yes. every day, we were - yes. every day, we were suppressed, checked and beaten. i was in the prison on administrative charges and spent eight months there. i spent eight months there. the prison i was in for was like a graveyard for the living. there was no food there and we were beaten every day. for more on the plight of the palestinians in israeli detention, i spoke to palestinian legal scholar and human rights attorney noura erakat. how do you think these releases of prisoners are being received by palestinians? i of prisoners are being received by palestinians?— by palestinians? i think as all palestinians _ by palestinians? i think as all palestinians who _ by palestinians? i think as all palestinians who are - by palestinians? i think as all palestinians who are living i palestinians who are living under captivity because of an ongoing occupation for 56 years, apartheid and 75 years of settler colonialism, it is a bit of a relief but it will not be lasting. despite the fact they were released back into society because israel remains the single authority and sovereign from the river to the sea and ruled by military dictate and racist apartheid regime. many of these palestinians, and much more, and be rearrested being on the wrong side of the street, driving on a segregated road, digging beneath the ground for water too deeply, for going to play injerusalem without water too deeply, for going to play in jerusalem without a military permit. —— pray. as all of this is within a context and i want to highlight because of context to the audience that israel could have achieved this release, this exchange, precise exchange, in the first week of its onslaught against the palestinians sieged in the gaza strip. it could have achieved it right before the ground invasion on october 27. he could have achieved it before the gutting and incursion of al—shifa hospital. so as we continue to talk about these exchanges, let's ask ourselves why aren't we insisting on political negotiations? we know that the military solution is not possible and we know that israel's campaign against palestinians, that they say is targeting hamas but is actually collective punishment, is not enhancing the negotiating leverage as this could have been achieved in the first week. and so, we must also remember that there needs to be accountability at this point and the fate of those palestinians, now some 15,000 who have been killed, who can never be brought back to life as a result of the lack of accountability that israel has been afforded. i accountability that israel has been afforded.— accountability that israel has been afforded. i do want to get to the humanitarian _ been afforded. i do want to get to the humanitarian situation . to the humanitarian situation in just a to the humanitarian situation injust a moment but to the humanitarian situation in just a moment but as a palestinian legal scholar, what more do we know about the prisoners here that were likely part of this exchange and what kinds of charges they might�*ve been convicted of? 50. kinds of charges they might've been convicted of?— been convicted of? so, israel controls the _ been convicted of? so, israel controls the gaza _ been convicted of? so, israel controls the gaza strip - been convicted of? so, israel controls the gaza strip as - been convicted of? so, israel| controls the gaza strip as well as the west bank under military law. dilatory law is the suspension of any civilian law and therefore, the ability to create new law and applied retroactively, to detain somebody without charge or trial known as administrative detention. that's how 2000 of some 8000 palestinians are held as prisoner without charge or trial. it's the presumption of guilt rather than the presumption of innocence. it's the inability to cross examine your accuser as well as to the evidence before you.