The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Friday that the hostages that have been held in the Gaza Strip for over six weeks have arrived in Israel after they were first released and then reached Egypt via the Rafah crossing.
"IDF Special Forces and ISA [Israel Security Agency or Shin Bet] Forces are currently with the released hostages. They will continue to be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they make their way to Israeli hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families," the military specified in a social media post. The "entire Israeli security establishment" reaffirmed their commitment to "continue operating until all the hostages are returned home."
Separately, Israeli media reported that the 13 released Israeli hostages were elderly women and mothers with their young children.
