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.

Three female Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months have been released and brought back to Israel, after a long-awaited ceasefire deal took effect. Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, who is also a British citizen, were due to be freed in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in Gaza, is now in effect. The deal began after nearly a three-hour delay during which Israeli strikes killed at least 19 Palestinians.

Mughrabi and James Mackenzie JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli warplanes and artillery attacked the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday and Palestinian medics said eight people were killed shortly after Israel and Hamas missed a deadline for a ceasefire that could pave the way for halting the Middle East's most devastating conflict in years.

A ceasefire in the War in Gaza took effect on Sunday as Hamas released the first three hostages it has held for 15 months during its fighting with Israel.

By Mohammed Salem, Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie GAZA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Palestinians poured into the streets to celebrate and return to the rubble of their bombed-out homes on Sunday,

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were freed from Gaza. Thirty more hostages are set to be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.