Israel has announced that Hamas has handed over the first seven hostages to the Red Cross, marking the beginning of a major prisoner exchange as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza. The release comes after more than two years of captivity for the hostages, all men aged between 20 and 48. In exchange, Israel is set to release over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences and others detained after the events of 7 October. The ceasefire, which began at midday local time, has also allowed tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. Families and friends of the hostages celebrated the news, while further phases of the agreement, including potential Israeli troop withdrawals, remain under discussion.