It's the second hostage release since a fragile ceasefire took effect last weekend, halting the fighting in Gaza for at least six weeks during which dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed while more aid flows in.

The expected swap of more Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners is the second such exchange since a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip last weekend and another test for the deal.

The Israel-Hamas war cease-fire began Sunday after a three-hour delay where the terror group didn’t reveal the names of the first three hostages to be released. Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were named as the first 3 people who would be released on Sunday — as officials expect 30 more hostages to be released from Hamas captivity,

The Red Cross said on Saturday it had completed the second phase of release operations as part of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, transferring four Israeli hostages from the enclave and facilitating the release of detainees from Israeli centres.

The Red Cross handed them over to the Israel Defense Force in Israel to receive initial wellness checks at special reception centers near the border with Gaza, an IDF senior official said.

Long lines of Palestinians -- some kneeling to kiss the soil as they stepped into the northern part of the strip -- were making their way home on Monday.

Displaced Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza on Monday (Jan 27), Palestine's interior ministry. Social media images captured thousands of people moving along sandy roads surrounded by the destruction caused by over a year of Israeli airstrikes.

Israel lifted its closure of the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas in accordance with a fragile ceasefire.

As Gazans return to what is left of their homes, they're facing new risks on top of monumental health challenges.

Cairo, Egypt - Recent As the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement takes effect, the Egyptian Red Crescent is working diligently to deliver vital aid and supplies to the Gaza Strip, providing much-needed relief to the region.

Palestinians began arriving in northern Gaza, months after Israel ordered them to flee. The Israel-Hamas truce was holding after it appeared to falter over the weekend.