As Hamas released eight hostages, television images showed some of the women walking past ambulances once they reached Israeli territory, Reuters reports.

Among the newly released hostages were a brother and sister, Belal and Aisha al-Ziadna, aged 18 and 17 respectively, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office. They are Bedouin Arab citizens of Israel and among four members of their family taken hostage while they were milking cows on a farm.

Wahid Alhuzail, who chairs a group for Bedouins kidnapped on Oct 7, said he was happy they were freed.

“But it’s not completely fulfilling. We want everyone to come home and for nobody to be stuck in the hands of the terror organisation Hamas,” he told Reuters.