The post Large crowds, gunmen gather at Gaza City square where Red Cross waiting to receive hostages appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The first three hostages set to be released from Gaza were transferred to the Red Cross and were on their way toward Israeli forces, the Israeli military announced

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.

Heavy Israeli bombardment, especially in Gaza City, killed 32 people late on Wednesday. The strikes continued early on Thursday and destroyed houses in Rafah in southern Gaza, Nuseirat in central Gaza and in northern Gaza,

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,

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.