The first two hostages, Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39, were brought onto a stage in southern Gaza’s Rafah, where they were transferred to Red Cross ambulances before heading to an Israeli border crossing, AP reported.

The hostages are the last living hostages to be freed in the first phase of a fragile deal with Israel, adding to pressure for both sides to start negotiations to permanently end the war.