The first three Israeli hostages were released after the ceasefire officially began. Hours later, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

President Biden released a statement following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire announcement Wednesday, saying release of American hostages will be included in the agreement.

The women are the first three hostages to be released under the newly implemented ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas

Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners in return, according to a statement from the its prison service, the Associated Press and New York Times reported. The ceasefire deal was supposed to take effect at 1:30 a.m. ET but was delayed by nearly three hours until Hamas released the list of hostage names to Israeli officials.

The deal ushers in an initial six-week period of calm and raises hopes for the release of dozens of militant-held hostages and an end to the war.

The first hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023 were released Sunday morning, with 33 hostages expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are expected to be freed in a ceasefire deal with Israel. Palestinian prisoners held in Israel will also be freed.

There are still 57 living hostages left in Gaza; 30 more hostages, including two Americans, are set to be freed in the first phase of the cease-fire agreement.

The Israeli military said the Red Cross had confirmed the handover of three hostages on Sunday, the first to be released as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Phase one of the deal states that Hamas officials will release a total of 33 hostages, many of whom are children, women and people over 50. In return, Israeli officials will release 50 Palestinian prisoners held in their jails for every Israeli female soldier released by Hamas, and 30 Palestinian prisoners for other hostages held by Hamas.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's military says Red Cross has told it hostages have been transferred and are on their way toward Israeli forces.

The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza said there could be as many as 10,000 bodies buried under rubble all across the strip, as many displaced Gazans try to return to their homes under a nascent ceasefire agreement.