GAZA: Hamas fighters have handed over four female Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Gaza City. In return, Israeli authorities say 200 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons have been released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Al Jazeera reports.
The captives were seen, alongside Hamas and Palestinian fighters, on a platform in Palestine Square in Gaza City. They were seen grinning before being turned over to the Red Cross.
Amid cheers from Palestinians, the Red Cross vehicles left the territory. Dozens of masked, armed Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters arrived at a key square in Gaza City on Saturday, where four Israeli women hostages are expected to be handed over to the Red Cross, an AFP reporter said.
Sources from Hamas and Islamic Jihad told they had deployed around 200 members of their armed wings, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades and the Al-Quds Brigades respectively, to secure Palestine Square where the handover was to happen.
The planned release comes under a truce deal in the Gaza war that is also expected to see a second group of Palestinian prisoners freed.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority has reported that discussions are ongoing between Israel and mediators of the ceasefire agreement to have Arbel Yehud released before next Saturday, Al Jazeera reports.
Israel expected Yehud to be released earlier today along with the other female captives, but Hamas said she would be released next week.
According to the news outlet, once Yehud is released, Palestinians will be allowed to return to northern Gaza as Israeli soldiers will leave the Netzarim Corridor.
Masses of people have congregated in Ramallah, celebrating the return of the released Palestinian prisoners, Al Jazeera reports.
The large crowd includes people hoisting Palestinian flags, shouting slogans and documenting the scene with their phones, live footage shows.
They are surrounding a convoy of buses carrying the freed prisoners.
The prisoners, still wearing grey jumpsuits, can be seen smiling and waving to the crowd as they get off the bus. Some embrace people among the crowd and others are hoisted up on the shoulders of jubilant people.
Crowds of Palestinians erupted in joy as they welcomed dozens of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel who arrived aboard buses in Ramallah, a AFP journalist reports.
Stepping off the bus in grey tracksuits, many prisoners were raised onto the shoulders of people waiting, while others walked through the crowd.
