A group of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived in war-torn Gaza on Saturday, greeted by jubilant families and cheering crowds celebrating their return. Their homecoming was marked by a mix of joy and sorrow after years of captivity.

Hamas Saturday freed four Israeli female soldiers after 477 days of captivity in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Army said. The soldiers crossed into Israeli territory before reuniting with their families after their captivity ended thanks to the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel would not allow Palestinians to begin returning to northern Gaza until Mr Yehoud, a civilian taken from a kibbutz in Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war, was freed.

An agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas that involves the release of additional hostages and the return of Palestinians to the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Israel said Palestinians could begin returning to the north of the war-battered Gaza Strip on Monday after a deal was reached with Hamas for the release of another six hostages, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Palestinian militants and Israel carried out a hostage-prisoner swap on Saturday under a Gaza ceasefire deal, but a last-minute dispute blocked the expected return of hundreds of thousands of Palestin

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that residents of the Gaza Strip would not be allowed to travel back to the north of the territory until an Israeli civilian hostage is released.

The deal, which has been held back after several delays, now passes to the country's full cabinet for signoff. View on euronews