Gaza City: 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 Anadolu Agency, the Israeli army confirmed that it was notified by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that the three captives - Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher - had been handed over. The military stated that the three female captives are now in the hands of its forces in Gaza following the handover by the Red Cross.

The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the three freed captives are in good health. A large number of Qassam members and their vehicles gathered in central Gaza City during the handover process, as observed by an Anadolu reporter.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a delay due to Israeli accusations of Hamas delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. The ceasefire was initially scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m. local time.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel's war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, as reported by local health authorities. The conflict has resulted in more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis impacting many elderly people and children.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.