Jewish TV anchor Sharri Markson breaks down on Australian TV as the first seven Israeli hostages are released by Hamas to the Red Cross
A Jewish TV news anchor has broken down after receiving confirmation the first Israeli hostages had been released by Hamas.
Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson fought back tears as news broke that the first seven of 20 living Israeli hostages were released on Monday after two years in captivity.
The Red Cross confirmed it was beginning the process with Hamas of handing over the 20 detainees who were captured during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
‘This is the most incredible breaking news to be reporting,’ Markson said while choking back tears.
‘The seven hostages who have been in the tunnels of Gaza for the past two years, 738 days, are now in the Red Cross vehicles, on their way to the IDF, to the safety of Israel, to be in the arms of their loved ones.
‘Seven hostages have now been handed over.’
Markson then read out the names of the freed hostages, before breaking down again moments later.
‘This is the beginning of the end of the war,’ she said.
Jewish TV host Sharri Markson (pictured) broke down as she revealed Israeli hostages were being freed by Hamas
Markson (pictured) choked back tears while commenting on the joy the release would bring to Israelis and the global Jewish community
The Red Cross retrieved the hostages from a meeting point in northern Gaza (pictured, a Red Cross vehicle moving in anticipation of the release on Monday)
‘To see them home, surely, I can tell you there will not be a dry eye in all of Israel.
‘There are hundreds of thousands of people on the streets celebrating.’
The Red Cross confirmed the development in a statement.
‘The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has started a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas,’ it said.
The ICRC has refused to provide footage of the released detainees ‘out of respect for the dignity of those released and the condition they may be in’.
Hamas earlier confirmed the names of the living hostages who will be returned and the over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners who will be freed.
The exchange is part of a Donald Trump-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas that aims to bring an end to the war.
The IDF earlier Monday explained the hostages would be released at a meeting point in Northern Gaza ‘where several hostages will be transferred into their custody.’
It is expected more aid will be allowed into Gaza following the release of the hostages (pictured, Gaza City on Sunday)
The remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released later on (pictured, Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday)
The force added it was preparing to receive additional hostages through the Red Cross later on.
Monday’s release is expected to be followed by an increase of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza, where more than a million Palestinians have been displaced.
President Trump will soon arrive in the region along with other leaders to discuss the US-proposed peace deal and postwar plans.
More to come…
