Crowds broke out into cheers when the announcement was made that Hamas has released seven hostages into the custody of the Red Cross, the first to be released as part of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

There was no immediate information on their condition on Monday.

People packed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv overnight into Monday, where big screens were set up to welcome home the last living hostages from Gaza.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli hostage Matan, spoke with him via phone for the first time in two years as he was on his way to meet Israeli troops in Gaza.