Israeli authorities have confirmed that Hamas handed over the first three female captives as a ceasefire deal for the war-ravaged Gaza Strip took effect.
The Israeli military and internal security agency Shin Bet said in a joint statement on Sunday evening that 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 28-year-old Emily Damari, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher were handed over to the Red Cross.
The Red Cross vehicles took off from Gaza City in the heavily besieged northern part of the enclave after Hamas brought the captives to as-Saraya Square as a crowd gathered.
The ceasefire deal is set to roll out in three phases and includes sending in many more humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza to alleviate the disaster in the enclave. The first stage will last 42 days as Israeli forces pull out of parts of Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted he will continue fighting as some far-right legislators in his government led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir resigned in protest.
Thousands of Palestinians celebrated the long-anticipated ceasefire that could improve conditions in Gaza, after more than 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks that have killed more than 46,000 Palestinians and left thousands missing.
