UPDATE - Transfer of 3 Israeli captives begins under Gaza ceasefire deal: Local media

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The process to transfer three Israeli captives in Gaza to the Red Cross began on Sunday, Israeli media said.

Palestinian group Hamas said early Sunday that it would set free three female captives under the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.

According to an Anadolu reporter, Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, began handing over the three Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City.

A large number of Qassam members and their vehicles gathered in central Gaza City to hand over the three Israeli women, he added.

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN and Israeli Channel 12 also confirmed the news.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay due to Israeli accusations for Hamas of delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. It was originally scheduled to start on 8.30 a.m. local time.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi and Rania Abu Shamala