The hostages' entourage reached the Rafah Crossing between Israel and Gaza late on Saturday night, and the Red Cross performed initial medical examinations on the freed hostages, which did not reveal anything problematic.
Earlier Saturday evening, the IDF confirmed: "Based on information that was received from the Red Cross, the hostages are currently on their way to the Rafah Crossing in the Gaza Strip."
Hamas has said that it passed 13 Israelis and four foreigners to the Red Cross, and this report was confirmed by the Red Cross. The number is lower than the expected 13 Israelis and seven foreigners who earlier reports had mentioned.
Most of the second group of released hostages are from Kibbutz Be'eri. Residents of the kibbutz, who are currently staying at a hotel near the Dead Sea, identified Sharon Avigdori and her daughter Noam in the Red Cross vehicle. They also identified a pair of siblings: 17-year-old Noam Or and 13-year-old Alma Or, whose mother was murdered and father kidnapped.
The IDF said, "Red Cross representatives have just transferred the hostages to Egypt. According to the information that was received by the IDF, 17 hostages were released, including 13 Israeli hostages and 4 Thai hostages."
"The released hostages' convoy is currently making its way through Egypt to the meeting point at Kerem Shalom.
"Security representatives will verify the list at the meeting point with the released hostages.
"The families of the hostages are being updated by IDF representatives with the latest available information."
The Prime Minister's Office responded: "The government of Israel embraces the seventeen hostages who are returning to Israel: 13 of our citizens and four Thai citizens, who returned to Israeli territory today. Their families were updated by the relevant authorities and informed that they are on their way to Israel."
"The Israeli government is committed to bringing back all of the kidnapped and missing."
Following the hostages' release, Kibbutz Be'eri and the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum headquarters noted that Hamas violated the agreement on the prisoner swap, by releasing a daughter without her mother.
"Kibbutz Be'eri and the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum headquarters are happy and emotional at the return of some of the hostages. At the same time, three children from two families in Kibbutz Be'eri were torn today from the only parent left to them."
"Hamas callously trampled the agreement and separated a mother from her daughter: Hila [Rotem] is returning home without her mother Ra'aya, who was left behind in Hamas captivity."
The statement also noted that Noam Or (16) and Alma Or (13) were torn from their father Dror, who is still held captive by Hamas; their mother Yonat was murdered.
Egyptian reports said that following negotiations, Egypt succeeded in resolving the crisis in the prisoner swap deal, which was "caused by technical issues."
Following this, the implementation of the second stage of the swap will continue as planned.
An Israeli diplomatic source confirmed that the crisis has resolved.
Earlier on Saturday evening, Hamas said that the release of the second group of hostages would be delayed, claiming that Israel has not met its obligations in the deal.
Israeli source confirmed that Israel had met all its obligations and called Hamas' claims a "publicity stunt," promising that if the hostages are not released by midnight, Israel will renew ground operations in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office responded: "Netanyahu held situational assessments with all of the security bodies, in order to ensure that the second stage would move forward."
The second stage includes 13 Israelis and seven foreigners, who are making their way to the Rafah Crossing.
A spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign ministry said, "Tonight 39 Palestinian prisoners will be freed, in exchange for the release of 13 Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza, in addition to seven foreigners, who are outside the framework of the agreement."
The spokesperson said that the terrorists to be released include 33 male underage terrorists, and six female terrorists. The hostages to be released include eight children five women and seven foreigners.