Jewish TV anchor Sharri Markson breaks down on Australian TV as the first seven Israeli hostages are released by Hamas to the Red Cross

A Jewish TV news anchor broke down after it was confirmed that the first Israeli hostages had been released by Hamas.

Sky News Australia presenter Sharri Markson burst into tears following the news that the first seven of 20 living Israeli hostages were released on Monday after two years in captivity.

The Red Cross confirmed that it has initiated the process with Hamas to hand over 20 detainees captured during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

“This is the most incredible breaking news to report,” Markson said, choking back tears.

‘Seven hostages, who were held in tunnels in Gaza for the last two years, that is, 738 days, now boarded Red Cross vehicles and set out for Israel to be reunited with the safety of Israel and the arms of their loved ones.

‘Seven hostages have now been handed over.’

Markson then read the names of the freed hostages and began speaking again a few minutes later.

‘This is the beginning of the end of the war,’ he said.

Markson (pictured) chokes back tears as he comments on the joy his release will bring to Israelis and the global Jewish community

The Red Cross picked up the hostages from a rendezvous point in northern Gaza (pictured a Red Cross vehicle driving in anticipation of their release on Monday)

‘To be able to take them home, I can say that of course there won’t be a dry eye in all of Israel.

‘There are hundreds of thousands of people celebrating in the streets.’

The Red Cross confirmed the development in a statement.

“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees within the scope of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas,” the statement said.

The ICRC refused to provide images of released detainees ‘out of respect for the dignity of the released detainees and the conditions in which they may be found’.

Hamas had previously confirmed the names of live hostages to be returned and more than 1,700 Palestinian detainees to be released.

The exchange is part of a deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by Donald Trump that aims to end the war.

The IDF had announced earlier on Monday that the hostages would be released at a rendezvous point in northern Gaza where ‘several hostages will be detained’.

More aid is expected to be allowed into Gaza after the hostages are released (pictured, Gaza City on Sunday)

The remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released later (pictured, Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday)

The force was preparing to take additional hostages later through the Red Cross, he added.

Following Monday’s announcement, the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where more than a million Palestinians have been displaced, is expected to increase.

On Sunday, Hamas moved all surviving hostages to three different locations in the Gaza Strip for release.

While special forces were ready to intervene if the gangs tried to attack them, the Israel Defense Forces warned that any provocation or deviation from the plan would be responded to.

President Trump was expected to arrive at the region around 9 a.m. (local time) with other leaders to discuss the US-proposed peace agreement and post-war plans.

Aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was hopeful the hostages could be released sooner than expected, but added: ‘It was actually great to catch them because we were involved and they were in places you don’t want to know about.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Monday was the “beginning of a new path.”

He told relatives of the remaining hostages that their release was “a historic event that some did not believe would happen.”

Netanyahu added: ‘Together we will continue to win, and together with God’s help we will guarantee the eternity of the country and the land of Israel.’