The hostage exchange is the second since the current ceasefire agreement. It is expected that by the end of the first phase of the deal's completion, 33 Israeli hostages will have been freed in exchange for the release of around 1,900 Palestinian detainees.

Before their release, the hostages, four female soldiers, were led onto a stage in Gaza City, surrounded by masked, uniformed fighters.

Israel is set to release 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees later in the day as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The terrorist group Hamas released four more hostages from Gaza on Saturday under a ceasefire deal with Israel that took effect nearly a week ago.

The return of fighters to Gaza streets highlights how Israeli bombardment has failed to achieve Netanyahu’s goal or eradicating Hamas as a political force.

Thousands of Palestinians chanted praise of Hamas on Saturday as they welcomed prisoners freed under a ceasefire deal between the militant group and Israel that saw four Israeli hostages also return home.

The hostages were freed in a heavily staged handover, ahead of the expected release of 200 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has announced it would release four female soldiers held hostage for 15 months in Gaza, as part of an exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners laid out in its ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Hamas militants have handed over four female Israeli soldiers to the Red Cross in a prisoner swap, part of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Newsweek has contacted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment.

Hamas militants have released four female Israeli soldiers they held captive for 15 months for 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in Israel.

Hamas said that it intends to release Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag on Saturday. All four of the women were serving as Israel Defense Forces soldiers at the time of their kidnapping.