Israel-Hamas ceasefire: Woman in wheelchair among 10 freed hostages returning to families

A teenage girl, the mum of a British-Israeli man and an elderly woman in a wheelchair were among the hostages released by Hamas today.

Israel confirmed 10 of its citizens were let go by Hamas as well as Thai, Argentine and Philippine nationals on the fifth day of a fragile ceasefire that has enabled humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. In return Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners.

Of the ten Israelis there were nine women and one child, said Dr Majed Al Ansari, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesman. The truce is due to end after one more exchange on Wednesday night. The British-Israeli son of 75-year-old Ada Sagi, Noam, confirmed that she was one of the Israelis to be released.

Also freed was 17-year-old Mia Leimberg along with her mum Gabriela Leimberg, 59, and family friend Clara Marman, 63. Ditza Heiman, 84, from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was another let go by Hamas and she is to be reunited with her four children and 20 grandkids soon.

Tammy Metzger, 78, and Ofelia Rothman, 77, were two more hostages released as was Rimon Kirscht, 36, but her husband Yagev Buchshtav, 34, is still being held captive. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Meirav Tal, 53, were the other Israeli hostages freed along with Norlin Agojo, 60, from the Philippines.

Noam Sagi said his mum was taken from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 after the militant group crossed the border into Israel. She had been due to celebrate her birthday with family in London just days after she was taken hostage, Mr Sagi previously told a press conference.

Mr Sagi, a London-based psychotherapist, said in a statement: "I can confirm that my mum, Ada Sagi, has been released tonight. For our family, this is a moment we have dreamt of and worked for every minute of every day since October 7. It will be hard to believe it is true until we are able to embrace in person. Our first priority is my mum's mental and physical health and we ask for time and space while we prioritise her wellbeing.

"Seeing my mum will be a moment of unparalleled relief and joy for us personally but comes against a backdrop of unparalleled grief and sorrow for our community. For many families, including friends and neighbours, the tragedy is ongoing as long as their family members remain hostage, and the traumas they have suffered will leave scars that might never heal.

"We call on every government, international agency and NGO to do whatever it takes to get every man, woman and child taken hostage on October 7 back where they belong - with their families. Enough with the games and enough with the psychological torture. Bring them home. Bring them all home, and do it now."