Live: Israeli hostages, Palestinian detainees freed on first Gaza truce exchange

Israel frees 90 Palestinian prisoners as ceasefire takes hold

The first Palestinian prisoners were released. They had been detained for what Israel called offenses related to its security, from throwing stones to more serious accusations such as attempted murder. Israel’s military, which occupies the West Bank, warned Palestinians against public celebration — the release took place after 1 a.m.

Israeli hostages, Palestinian detainees freed on first Gaza truce exchange

Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on Monday after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages, completing the first exchange under a long-awaited truce aimed at ending more than 15 months of war in Gaza.

The three hostages released Sunday, all women, were reunited with their families and taken to hospital in central Israel where a doctor said they were in stable condition.

Hours later in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian prisoners released by Israel in exchange left Ofer prison on buses at around 1:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday), with jubilant crowds celebrating their arrival in the nearby town of Beitunia.

As the ceasefire took effect on Sunday morning, thousands of displaced, war-weary Palestinians set off across the devastated Gaza Strip to return home.

• Released Israeli women hostages in ‘stable condition’: hospital
• The first three hostages released from Gaza arrived in Israel on Sunday, the military said. As part of Israel’s ceasefire deal with Hamas, three Israeli women were to be released on Sunday in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and young people.
• The ceasefire was set for 8:30am local time (6:30GMT) but was delayed after Israel refused to let the truce begin until it had received the names of the three female hostages to be released. 
• The first phase of the three-part truce calls for an initial six-week ceasefire, the staggered release of 33 hostages held by Hamas and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The hostages set for release include women, children and the elderly and wounded. The fate of the remaining 98 Israeli hostages has yet to be agreed.
• Phase 1 includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza to allow a surge of humanitarian aid into the enclave. Israel and Hamas also agreed to begin talks aimed at finding a permanent end to the war.