‘Happiness locked up in grief’ as Israelis celebrate return of hostages

The freed Israelis included nine women and four children aged nine and under. They were taken to hospitals in Israel to be reunited with their families

Yaffa Ada (Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum via AP)

Family and friends of Israeli hostages released by Hamas have celebrated the return of their relatives as the militant group released 24 people it had held for weeks in the Gaza Strip.

A crowd of Israelis gathered in a plaza dubbed Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to mark releases as part of a ceasefire swap deal.