Three female Israeli hostages held by Hamas for 15 months have been released and brought back to Israel, the Israeli military says, after a long-awaited ceasefire deal took effect. Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, who is also a British citizen, were due to be freed in exchange for 95 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The first three hostages released from Gaza arrived in Israe hours after the ceasefire took hold, and 90 Palestinian prisoners were scheduled for release later Sunday.