Hamas on Monday released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza, as part of a breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The 20 men were being reunited with their families and expected to undergo medical checks.
Families and friends of hostages erupted in loud cheers upon hearing the news at the Hostages Square.
The freed hostages have been identified as Eitan Mor, Alon Ohel, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran, Matan Angrest, Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio.
They will also undergo medical and psychological evaluations before reuniting with their families at designated reception centres in southern Israel.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit urged the public to respect the privacy of the returning hostages and their families during this emotional time.
"We ask the public to act responsibly and with sensitivity, to respect the privacy of the returning hostages, and to rely solely on official information," the statement read.
In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square and along roads in southern Israel near the Gaza border, hundreds of people assembled, waving flags and holding photos of the captives.
The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal.
Soon after handing the hostages, Hamas's military wing issued a statement claiming that it remains committed to the ongoing ceasefire and hostage-for-prisoner deal with Israel.
The group said it "remains committed" to the agreement as long as Israel adheres to its part of the deal.
"The agreement that was reached is the fruit of our people's steadfastness and resistance," the statement read. "The occupation could have returned most of its captives alive many months ago, but it continued to stall."
The atmosphere was a mix of emotions as news spread that the first group of hostages would soon be handed over to the Red Cross in northern Gaza.
As part of the deal outlined by US President Donald Trump, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli hostages and allow the immediate provision of "full aid" to Gaza, which has faced severe food shortages and famine in some regions.