IDF says released hostages have crossed into Israeli territory

The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday that the 13 hostages released by Hamas are with IDF Special Forces and Israeli Securities Authority forces on Israeli soil. 

The released Israelis underwent medical assessment and will be accompanied by IDF soldiers as they are transported to Israeli hospitals, where they will meet their families, the military said. 

"The Israel Defense Forces salutes and embraces the released hostages upon their return home," the IDF said in a statement. "The IDF, together with the entire Israeli security establishment, will continue operating until all the hostages are returned home."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office embraced the return of these hostages in a statement.

"We have now completed the return of the first of our hostages. Children, their mothers and more women. Each and every one of them is a whole world," Netanyahu said.

"But I emphasize to you - the families, and to you - the citizens of Israel: we are committed to the return of all our abductees," he continued. "This is one of the goals of the war and we are committed to achieving all the goals of the war."