The first three Israeli hostages returning home under a long-awaited Gaza truce were transferred to the Red Cross on Sunday, a Hamas official and the Israeli military said. The Israeli military said that "the Red Cross has communicated that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way" to be taken by Israeli forces.

Three hostages were handed over to Israeli forces — the first of 33 expected to be freed over the next six weeks in exchange for some 1,900 Palestinians. The deal follows months of negotiations.