A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, ushering in an initial six-week period of calm and raising hopes for the release of dozens of militant-held hostages and

Crowds of people gathered around vehicles carrying three hostages as they were released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel on Sunday.

leaving the Palestine Red Crescent Society teams in Gaza delivering lifesaving aid with much reduced resources. Beatrice Butsana-Sita, chief executive British Red Cross, says: "Before the conflict around 500 trucks were arriving in Gaza every day.

The complex accord emerged Wednesday after months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt & the US. Israeli bombardment, especially in Gaza City, killed 32 people hours later, medics say.

By Mohammed Salem, Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie GAZA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Palestinians poured into the streets to celebrate and headed back to the rubble of their bombed-out homes on Sunday as the Red Cross went to collect the first hostages to be freed in a ceasefire deal that halted fighting in Gaza after a rocky start.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed to the Israel Defense Forces that the three Israeli hostages have been transferred to the ICRC and are "on their way" to Israeli forces in Gaza, the IDF said in a statement.

The first three hostages released from Gaza arrived in Israel on Sunday for tearful reunions with families, hours after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold.

Just hours before the ceasefire comes into effect, Israel intercepted two drones launched toward Israeli territory, which it said came from Yemen. The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for one of the drones, claiming it targeted the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv.

The first three Israeli hostages have reunited with their families in emotional scenes, after being released under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire following 471 days in captivity.

The deal to pause the 15-month war includes the release of hostages held by Hamas. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel would be released in exchange, according to The Associated Press.

Under the ceasefire agreement, 90 prisoners will be freed today from Israeli prisons in exchange for the three now released Israeli hostages. Israel’s military has confirmed that the three released hostages have now crossed into Israel.