Israel says 90 Palestinian prisoners freed after Hamas releases three hostages in Gaza

A freed Palestinian prisoner greets her child after her release from an Israeli jail

Ninety Palestinian prisoners have been released as part of the first phase of a long-awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli prison service has said.

Most of them were women and children - who were greeted with hugs and cheers upon their arrival in the occupied West Bank.

Three Israeli hostages were earlier released by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza City hours after a ceasefire began, before being handed to the Israeli military.

The women released by Hamas - 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, dual British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, and Romi Gonen, 24 - are being treated in a Tel Aviv hospital, and are in a stable condition.

Emily was seen with bandages over two missing fingers, hugging her mother, in a video call shared with the BBC's Lucy Manning.

Hamas says for every hostage released, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails.

The ceasefire in Gaza came into force after a last-minute delay, but joy faded as Palestinians returned to their destroyed homes.

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