beyond tomorrow so that we can continue to see more hostages come out and more surge humanitarian relief into those in need in gaza. we've seen that this is a day by day, hour by hour and nothing is guaranteed. nothing is being taken for granted. but the proof that this is working and we're pursuing further is in every smile and every grateful to hear we see on the faces of those families who are finally getting back together again. the proof is little abigail. more than 20 other children 18 years and younger have been released. they been released to this deal as well. they've endured a terrible ordeal and they can now begin the long journey toward healing. i'm going to continue working with the mayor of qatar, the president of egypt and benjamin netanyahu of israel to do everything possible to see the hostages freed, all the hostages. i'm gratefulfor the personal partnership as we from this steel as we've mentioned. as we work together to see all this implemented and now to see all this implemented and now to try to extend it further. i will continue to work with all our partners to take the hard but necessary steps to build an integrated more prosperous and more peaceful future in the integrated more prosperous and more peacefulfuture in the region. a two state solution. it's the only way to guarantee a long—term security for both israelis and palestinian people. to make sure israel and palestinians alike live in equal measure of freedom and dignity. we will not give up on working towards that goal. thank you very much for that goal. thank you very much for that thank god she is home. i guess she can imagine the enjoyment. i wish i were there to hold her. [30 wish i were there to hold her. do ou wish i were there to hold her. do you have an update on the are other americans_ you have an update on the are other americans being held in any sense as to when_ americans being held in any sense as to when will— americans being held in any sense as to when will be released? we�*re to when will be released? we're ho eful to when will be released? we're hepeful but _ to when will be released? we're hepeful but i — to when will be released? we're hopeful but i don't _ to when will be released? we're hopeful but i don't have - to when will be released? we're hopeful but i don't have any - to when will be released? we're l hopeful but i don't have any firmly to tell you at this moment. [30 hopeful but i don't have any firmly to tell you at this moment. do you meet that _ to tell you at this moment. do you meet that if _ to tell you at this moment. do you expect that if you _ to tell you at this moment. do you expect that if you are _ to tell you at this moment. do you expect that if you are able - to tell you at this moment. do you expect that if you are able to - to tell you at this moment. do you expect that if you are able to use i expect that if you are able to use this momentum to extend the pause, have you _ this momentum to extend the pause, have you extracted any guarantees about _ have you extracted any guarantees about proof of life or of the hostages? do you have an expectation of how _ hostages? do you have an expectation of how much— hostages? do you have an expectation of how much longer we could push this pause? — of how much longer we could push this pause?— of how much longer we could push this ause? ., ,, ~ ., ., this pause? low, you know the deal calls for every _ this pause? low, you know the deal calls for every ten _ this pause? low, you know the deal calls for every ten hostages - calls for every ten hostages released we extend another day. i am hopeful this is not the end, it's going to continue. but we don't know. i got a sense that all the players in the region, even the neighbours who haven't been directly involved are looking for a way to enter this so that the hostages are all released and hamas is completely... how can i say? no longer in control of any portion of gaza. , , ., ., ., , gaza. did they have other hostages or other still _ gaza. did they have other hostages or other still other _ gaza. did they have other hostages or other still other militant - gaza. did they have other hostages or other still other militant groupsl or other still other militant groups you want— or other still other militant groups you want to deal with? we or other still other militant groups you want to deal with?— you want to deal with? we think there are other— you want to deal with? we think there are other militant - you want to deal with? we think there are other militant groups, | there are other militant groups, we're not sure.— we're not sure. how is abigail doinu , we're not sure. how is abigail doing. what — we're not sure. how is abigail doing, what is _ we're not sure. how is abigail doing, what is her— we're not sure. how is abigail doing, what is her physical. doing, what is her physical condition? i doing, what is her physical condition?— doing, what is her physical condition? . �* ., ., condition? i haven't got that information. _ condition? i haven't got that information. i— condition? i haven't got that information. i haven't - condition? i haven't got that| information. i haven't gotten condition? i haven't got that - information. i haven't gotten that information. i haven't gotten that information. i haven't gotten that information. ijust want information. i haven't gotten that information. i just want to let you know they were going across into egypt as you recall. but in older non—american elderly woman is very sick and was in need of immediate medical help. so they arranged a cross directly into israel to pay able to take her to a hospital. all i know is she is being held. i haven't seen a photograph of them but she is safely ensconced into israel. but there's a lot more work to be done. i would like to see us move to a point where we're able to... levy put it this way, i like to... levy put it this way, i like to see the pause go on as long as prisoners keep coming out. thank you all so very much. we have to call you, i know it's a he will call me with only ten minutes or so. that's the notice i get. i didn't want to be having this press conference if they weren't physically... even when they weren't physically... even when they weren't physically... even when they were in the red cross ambulance i didn't want to do it because they were not out, they were still in gaza. thank you for your patience. all right. happy holidays. happy holidays to you guys. that was the us presidentjoe biden speaking lies about the latest release of that latest group of israeli hosta but hostages. he was focusing on one in particular, abigail dhould nationals citizen. she's four now in fact she was three on the 7th of october when she was taken hostage. it was actually her birthday during that time that she was in captivity. you heard joe biden talking about the diplomatic efforts going on behind the scenes to secure their release of her but also the other hostages as well. also confirming something that we heard that in fact the hostages for the first time crossed not through the first time crossed not through the rafah crossing between gaza and egypt but also the group of israelis went directly in to israel. one of the kibbutz that was attacked on the 7th of october. we want to show you live pictures of rafah crossing because that group as we have seen today on the third day, as we saw on day one end day due has contained extra hostages who were released, notjust extra hostages who were released, not just the extra hostages who were released, notjust the israelis who would do to be released under this deal. we've been seeing in the last few minutes once again some of those red cross vehicles passing through the rafah crossing. it would appear that the foreign passport holders, the non—israelis would look like they have still been taken into egypt first of all throughout rafah. president biden indicated there that this was somewhat of a last—minute change of plan. he talked about one of the hostages being quite ill and needing urgent medical treatment. he said that when he talked about them going directly into israel because of course at the moment there aren't really direct route into area sunak israel. at the northern end of the gaza strip, the normal one is the one that would normally be used to go straight into gaza into israel. that was destroyed and put out of action in those hamas attacks on the 7th of october. let's get a little more detailfrom more detail from sarah more detailfrom sarah davies. thank you forjoining us once again. we do appreciate your regular updates on this developing stories tell us a bit more about today's handover. we here it happened in the north of the gaza strip rather than the south for the first time today.— the first time today. thank you so much for having _ the first time today. thank you so much for having me. _ the first time today. thank you so much for having me. as _ the first time today. thank you so much for having me. as you - the first time today. thank you so | much for having me. as you know, there is the ongoing multi—day operation. at this time i cannot provide further information or details of the operation. for us the priority is really that operation and we cannot provide any further details until our part has been entirely concluded. this is notjust for the safety of course of the hostages in the current operation but also for any future operations. i know this is very frustrating but our priority is always the safety of those involved in these operations. okay. just for clarity, we did see and hear the us presidentjoe biden saying that those hostages were taken directly into israel today rather than through the rafah crossing. he appears to have confirmed it was clarity, there is nothing that you can add to that. there are a lot of sources, a lot of reports on this but at this time unfortunately, the confirmation cannot come from us.— unfortunately, the confirmation cannot come from us. okay. it's fair to say that — cannot come from us. okay. it's fair to say that as _ cannot come from us. okay. it's fair to say that as what _ cannot come from us. okay. it's fair to say that as what happened, - to say that as what happened, obviously, the presidentjoe biden was saying that's what happened today. different from day one and two. talk a little bit more for us about the normal run of things. obviously, when you're red cross staff actually received the hostages, they were things that happen straightaway, things like medical check, aren't they are? fit medical check, aren't they are? of course when our teams do arrive at the meeting point and they are in the meeting point and they are in the process of receiving the hostages into their care to first priority is to really reassure them and let them know what's happening. ethic it's important to note that we're not entirely sure whether these hostages know what was going to happen to them or what is happening. they may not have been informed prior to meeting the red cross. our teams really let them know that we're here, we've got you, you are safe now. we will be transporting you across out of gaza where you will meet the israeli authorities, where you have medical checkups, psychological support and most important part is at the end of the day they will be reunited with their loved ones. {iii the day they will be reunited with their loved ones.— the day they will be reunited with their loved ones. of course tomorrow is the final day _ their loved ones. of course tomorrow is the final day of _ their loved ones. of course tomorrow is the final day of this _ their loved ones. of course tomorrow is the final day of this deal _ their loved ones. of course tomorrow is the final day of this deal as - is the final day of this deal as it stands at the moment. we've heard that there is hope that it can be extended, presumably if that happens the red cross is standing ready to continue the work that you've done so far. ~ , , ., , continue the work that you've done sofar. , ~ �* continue the work that you've done sofar. , . �* ., so far. absolutely. we're always read to so far. absolutely. we're always ready to facilitate _ so far. absolutely. we're always ready to facilitate this _ so far. absolutely. we're always ready to facilitate this type - so far. absolutely. we're always ready to facilitate this type of i ready to facilitate this type of release. this is really such a crucial part of our role as a neutral organisation, it really gets to the heart of what we do and why and how we're there. we would welcome any further that really needs to be done. but we can see the impact on families left in israel and of course those who are held hostage and now can't remain held hostage. of course there are so many still currently held hostage. also the civilians in gaza who have been living through a conflict, and apocalyptic things.— living through a conflict, and apocalyptic things. living through a conflict, and aocal ticthinus. ., ., ~ apocalyptic things. sarah, thank you for “oininu apocalyptic things. sarah, thank you forjoining us- _ apocalyptic things. sarah, thank you forjoining us. sarah _ apocalyptic things. sarah, thank you forjoining us. sarah davies- apocalyptic things. sarah, thank you forjoining us. sarah davies for- apocalyptic things. sarah, thank you forjoining us. sarah davies for the l forjoining us. sarah davies for the international committee of the red cross. just to tell you a bit more about those pictures on your screen just now. this was a hotel, an auditorium just north of tel aviv at the moment. the people staying at this particular hotel are all former residents of one of the kibbutz attacked on the 7th of october but also many of the hostages that were released tonight from that particular kibbutz. you can see and hear their the released hostages being shown on the big screen, there were cries and applause. our bbc reporter said that people were hugging and holding one another. talking about the happiness and the thrill of seeing some of their community members returned into israel. there are still nine hostages from gaza. we know the deal as it stands at the moment only includes women and children, there were no men's being released as part of this deal. you're seeing those scenes, so many of these people who went through to gather, that traumatic experience on october the 7th haven't been back to the home sense and now find themselves watching those pictures, watching those live pictures of some of their friends, that community, their family members being released from captivity in gaza. i think we can speak to our washington correspondent about what president biden had to say. he was talking about one released hostage today in particular, who has israeli— american dual citizenship. tell us more about abigail. he american dual citizenship. tell us more about abigail.— american dual citizenship. tell us more about abigail. he has spoken ve often more about abigail. he has spoken very often about _ more about abigail. he has spoken very often about his _ more about abigail. he has spoken very often about his desire - more about abigail. he has spoken very often about his desire to - more about abigail. he has spoken very often about his desire to get l very often about his desire to get abigail out of captivity. and reunited with the remainder of her family. he spoke to great length about how she ended up being captured by hamas as she was a three—year—old girl at the time and she turned four in captivity on friday. she was taken on october the 7th and her parents were killed during that attack. he spoke in detail about how she... her father was holding her, he was a photojournalist, he was holding her and she was covered in his blood and ran to the neighbours house. he said very simply, thank god she is home. but he wasn't really sure about what kind of condition that she was in. he has made it his stated intention to make sure that notjust the general hostages are released but americans in particular are released. it's not clear how many remain in captivity in gaza. but there is an estimated ten or so americans that are unaccounted for. he said in that speech that he will continue to work with the qatari government, expresses appreciation to the qatari leader and hope the partnership will continue. his direct interest in this is to ensure that all of the americans that are in gaza are released and reunited with their families. in gaza are released and reunited with theirfamilies. he in gaza are released and reunited with their families.— with their families. he talked is well, with their families. he talked is well. let's _ with their families. he talked is well, let's spend _ with their families. he talked is well, let's spend a _ with their families. he talked is well, let's spend a few- with their families. he talked is well, let's spend a few minutes with their families. he talked is i well, let's spend a few minutes on the fact that the us has made it clear they want to see more hostages released. they've also made it clear they fully put israel's right to defend itself. the military operation, benjamin netanyahu, the prime minister said will continue. what kind of messages are the israelis getting from the us about how protecting civilians and eradicating hamas might be two compatible ames?— compatible ames? right in the beginning. _ compatible ames? right in the beginning, soon _ compatible ames? right in the beginning, soon after- compatible ames? right in the beginning, soon after octoberl compatible ames? right in the i beginning, soon after october the 7th the us government really was emphatic in defending israel and its right to defend itself. it's right to route hamas from gaza. but what we've seen over the last few weeks orso we've seen over the last few weeks or so is a softening of that stance, there's been this international outcry as israel continued to bombard gaza and with the humanitarian crisis that was unfolding and continues to unfold. he is tempered that message of israel's right to defend itself with this concern of the fate of the palestinian civilians. he's continued to put pressure on prime minister netanyahu to ensure that those civilian casualties are limited. what we've seen in the speech today was a focus really on what the end goal is. i'm sure that this is what has come up in those backroom conversations that they've been having with israel, that they want to see a two state solution in which the people of gaza are able to live and exercise their human rights as much as the people of israel have been doing. as much as the people of israel have been doing-— been doing. thank you for that. our correspondent _ been doing. thank you for that. our correspondent in _ been doing. thank you for that. our correspondent in washington. i been doing. thank you for that. our correspondent in washington. let's| correspondent in washington. let's look again at the scene live outside of the prison in the occupied west bank. we've been reporting the release and the return onto israeli soil, that latest group of israeli hostages. of course some of the key pillars of that deal is the release in exchange of palestinian detainees being held in israeli prisons and 39 of those are due to be released this evening. it is the thing at the end of the day that concludes each day of the day that concludes each day of this four day deal. they are released from ofer, the scene outside the prison. they are taking through the checkpoint back into the occupied west bank where they are reunited with friends and family and loved ones. another 39 we're told this evening, no men are being released as part of that deal. similarly no mail israeli hostages released. note mailed palestinian detainees released. nobod