A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came into effect on Sunday morning. Hostages held in the strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be freed in the first phase of the deal.Meanwhile,

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross on Sunday under the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The three captives were handed over by Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, at Saraya Square in central Gaza City, according to an Anadolu reporter.

Report by Petra Abou Haydar, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian The Gaza ceasefire has come into effect, marking the start of a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel. O

The first three hostages to be released under the deal, as announced by Hamas are identified as Emily Damari (28), Doron Steinbrecher (31), and Romi Gonen (24), all Israeli women. The three stepped out of a vehicle surrounded by armed Hamas fighters. They were then transferred into vehicles belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Palestinians poured into the streets to celebrate and return to the rubble of their bombed-out homes on Sunday, and Hamas handed over the first three hostages to the Red

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to begin shortly. However, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the ceasefire will not begin until Tel Aviv gets a list of the hostages set to be released.

Three hostages have been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to NBC News’ crew in Gaza, and will be making their way to Israel.

Hamas has released three Israeli hostages after 471 days, bringing hope to their families as they return for medical checkups.- Watch Video on English Oneindia