Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli dual national, and Yarden Bibas were handed over to Red Cross officials in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis before being transferred to Israel.
Israeli-American Keith Siegel was handed over separately a few hours later at the Gaza City seaport.
After 484 days, Ofer and Yarden have finally been released from captivity. — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) pic.twitter.com/52zKkhXUhPFebruary 1, 2025
Bibas is the father of the two youngest hostages, baby Kfir - only nine months old when he was kidnapped by Hamas-led gunmen on October 7 - 2023, and Ariel, who was four at the time of the cross-border attack.
Hamas said in November 2023 that the boys and their mother Shiri, who was taken at the same time, were killed in an Israeli air strike.
There has been no word on them since.
Israel is expected to transfer 182 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, Hamas said.
At the newly reopened Rafah crossing on the southern border, the first Palestinian patients to be allowed to leave Gaza, including children suffering from cancer and heart conditions, were expected to cross over to Egypt in a bus provided by the World Health Organization.
Saturday's handover had none of the chaotic scenes that overshadowed an earlier transfer on Thursday, when Hamas guards struggled to shield hostages from a surging crowd in Gaza.
Ofer Kalderon had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023. (AP PHOTO)
But it was once again an occasion for a show of force by uniformed Hamas fighters who paraded in the area where the handovers took place in a sign of their re-established dominance in Gaza despite the heavy losses suffered in the war.
Kalderon, whose two children Erez and Sahar were released in the first hostage exchange in November 2023, and Bibas both briefly mounted a stage in Khan Younis, in front of a poster of Hamas figures including Mohammad Deif, the former military commander whose death was confirmed by Hamas this week, before being handed over to the Red Cross officials.
"Ofer Kalderon is free! We share the immense relief and joy of his loved ones after 483 days of unimaginable hell," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.
Eighteen hostages, including five Thais freed on Thursday, have now been released in exchange for 400 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Negotiations are due to start by Tuesday on agreements for the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in a second phase of the deal.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, 33 children, women and older male hostages as well as sick and injured, were due to be released, with more than 60 men of military age left for a second phase which must still be negotiated.
Hamas fighters paraded at the hostage releases in a sign of their re-established dominance in Gaza. (AP PHOTO)
The initial six-week ceasefire, agreed with Egyptian and Qatari mediators and backed by the United States, has so far stayed on track despite several incidents that have led both sides to accuse the other of violating the deal.
The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 killed some 1200 people, with more than 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.
Israel's campaign in response has destroyed much of the densely populated Gaza Strip and killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The war could resume in early March if an agreement is not reached during negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire.
Israel says it is still committed to destroying Hamas, even after the militant group reasserted its rule over Gaza within hours of the latest ceasefire.
A key far-right partner in Netanyahu's coalition is calling for the war to resume after the ceasefire's first phase.
Hamas says it won't release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
with AP
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