Look: First Israeli hostages released as Gaza truce begins

The first three Israeli hostages were released Sunday under a long-awaited Gaza truce aimed at ending more than 15 months of war that has ravaged the Palestinian territory. As the ceasefire took effect in the morning, thousands of displaced, war-weary Palestinians set off across the devastated Gaza Strip to return home.

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An initial 42-day truce brokered by Qatari, US and Egyptian mediators is meant to enable a surge of sorely needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, as a total of 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians in Israeli custody.

The Israeli military said the first three hostages, all women, "crossed the border into Israeli territory" in the afternoon.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group earlier identified the three women as Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher.

Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the hostages were "in our hands and on their way home".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they had endured a horrific ordeal.

"I know, we all know, they have been through hell. They are emerging from darkness into light, from bondage to freedom," he said.

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners are due to be released by Israel in exchange later on Sunday.

Minutes after the truce began, the United Nations said the first trucks carrying sorely needed humanitarian aid had entered the Palestinian territory.

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The truce is intended to pave the way for a permanent end to the war, but a second phase has yet to be finalised.

It came into effect nearly three hours later than scheduled. During the delay, Israel's military said it was continuing to operate, with the territory's civil defence agency reporting 19 people killed and 25 wounded in bombardments.

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