The first day of the ceasefire...First release of three Israeli women hostages

As the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas took effect on the morning of the 19th local time, three Israeli hostages held by Hamas were released in 471 days.

Israeli military special forces said they took over three female hostages through the Red Cross in Gaza City, central Gaza, on the afternoon of the 19th.

They are women in their 20s and 30s, including dancers and animal hospital nurses, who were all kidnapped on the day of Hamas' surprise attack on October 7, 2023.

The hostages will meet their families after they undergo medical examinations at military facilities in the border area.

Israel will hand over 90 Palestinian prisoners to Hamas on the same day, with 69 women and 21 teenage men to be released, Hamas said.

The two sides agreed to exchange 33 hostages and 737 prisoners, including them, during the 42-day first phase of the truce, and will begin discussions on the second and third phases on the 16th.

The cease-fire took effect three hours later than scheduled as Israel resumed airstrikes because Hamas failed to hand over the "release hostage list" promised earlier on time.