BBC Breakfast’s was interrupted on Saturday morning for some breaking news coverage. Mike Bushell rounded off his sports segment and handed it over to presenters Naga Munchetty and Ben Thompson, who were ready to report on unfolding events in Gaza.
After thanking Mike, Naga announced: “19 minutes to eight is the time. We’re just going to bring you some pictures that we’re getting out of Gaza.”
She added, “This is Khan Yunis. Now you’re seeing Red Cross vehicles, there’s one approaching the area, and this is the area where, over the past five weeks, no four weeks, actually, but five releases have happened of Israeli hostages, and this is in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.”
Ben took the baton, elaborating further: “Yeah, the images you’re looking at there, this is the area in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. This is where the hostages will be handed over to the Red Cross.”
He provided more context, saying, “There are three hostages who are due to be released today. We now have the names of them,” reports the Express.
The host went on to detail, “After 500 days in captivity, they will be handed over to the Red Cross on the other side of all of this, of course, in Tel Aviv, in hostage square.
“Families and friends of those hostages are watching closely towards this when those hostages are finally handed over.”
Naga continued with additional information on the situation: “We are expecting to see Alexander Troufanov, Yair Horn, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, so they will be shown.”
She concluded, hinting at upcoming coverage, “Hopefully, what usually happens is they then get up on the stage, and members of Hamas interview them, we will see how that pans out.
“But just so you know, we’re keeping an eye on this, and we will bring you that hostage release later, as soon as it happens.”
Later in the broadcast, the programme cut to live footage, showing all three hostages being freed.
BBC Breakfast airs daily at 6am on BBC One.