Israel begins receiving first hostages in swap for thousands of Palestinian prisoners

 A total of 48 Hamas captives are set to be released, with 20 thought to be alive. Meanwhile, Israel is set to free over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has released seven hostages into the custody of the Red Cross on Monday morning, the first to be released as part of the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas.

The deal involves the exchange of the last 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners on Monday morning.

250 Palestinians who are serving life term or long sentences in Israeli prisons are expected to be released as well as 1,700 who were detained in the Gaza strip during the war.

Early on Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had started a "multi-phase operation" to oversee the release of hostages and prisoners.

The exchange marks a breakthrough after a ceasefire was agreed following just over two years of war.

Major Israeli TV channels aired special overnight coverage ahead of the hostages’ release as anticipation mounted. Before dawn, crowds began gathering around a large screen in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.

In Gaza, a surge of UN aid trucks is expected to enter the enclave where hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless after the Israeli military's two-year offensive. 

- Source Euro News 

This is a developing story and will be updated as more news comes in.