of an extension as hamas offers to release more hostages. dozens of israelis who ve been held captive in gaza have been released by hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the uk government. in return, 117 palestinian prisoners have been freed. president biden said he wants to keep the deal going so all hostages can be brought home and more aid can be sent to gaza. our middle east correspondent hugo bachega reports. free again. 14 israeli hostages released by hamas head home after their long ordeal, along with three foreign nationals. among them were is year olds dafna and ela elyakim, eight, who were finally reunited with their mum, chen goldstein almog, who was released along with her three children, and roni kriboy, released 51 days after being kidnapped from a festival where he was working as sound crew. it followed a weekend of happy reunions. people from kfar aza watched on as news of their friends avigail idan spent her fourth birthday in captivity. the israeli a
red cross, the neutral intermediary who actually transport the hostages through gaza. the white house has said its hopeful that a us citizen will be among those freed. yesterday, hamas freed another 13 israelis who were taken hostage during the attacks on october the 7th. they are all women, teenagers and young children. four thai nationals were also released. among the group was nine year old emily hand. she was at a sleepover at a friend s house in the kibbutz when she was abducted, without any family with her. there was an emotional reunion last night. there was an emotional reunion last night. other children freed include hila rotem, aged 12. she was taken captive with her mother, raya rotem, who was not released with her daughter, and remains a hostage in gaza. this is accountant shiri weiss, aged 53, a hostage released to israel along with her 18 year old daughter, noga weiss, the hostages were freed in exchange for a group of palestinian prisoners from israeli jails
and the number of prisoners freed to 117. let s take a closer look at some of the hostages released by hamas today. among the group are sisters, dafna and ela elyakim. they were attacked at their home in kibbutz nir oz. the girls were part of a family group whose capture was live streamed by the attackers themselves. also for the first time, an american israeli citizen was released earlier today. abigail idan was just three at the time she was taken hostage she spent her fourth birthday in captivity. her parents were killed by hamas gunmen during the october seven attacks. her great aunt and cousin said they hoped and prayed today would come and expressed graititude to president biden, the qatari government and other parties involved in helping the release. they also said today s release proves that we can get all the hostages back home. the israel defense forces spokesman daniel hagari said the release of four year old abigail was proof this is a justified war, fighting a