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Hamas fighters released 24 hostages on the first day of the initial truce in the ongoing conflict, which marked the first time in seven weeks that the guns fell silent across the Gaza Strip.

 The hostages, including Israeli women and children and Thai farm workers, were transferred out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that a four-car convoy, accompanied by eight ICRC staff members, facilitated the transfer. Qatar, serving as the mediator for the truce deal, confirmed the release of 13 Israelis (some with dual nationalities), along with 10 Thais and a Filipino.

As part of the exchange, 39 Palestinian women and children were released from Israeli jails in return for the 13 Israelis, according to Qatar. Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC’s regional director for the Near and Middle East, expressed relief at the reunification of families, stating, “The deep pain that family members separated from their loved ones feel is indescribable."

Israel disclosed the names of the Israeli hostages, including four children accompanied by four family members and five elderly women. The released hostages underwent an initial medical assessment within Israeli territory and will be accompanied by IDF soldiers to Israeli hospitals for reunification with their families, as stated by the military.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the completion of the return of the first batch of hostages in a recorded video message, emphasizing the commitment to bringing back all hostages. Under the terms of the four-day Israel-Hamas truce, 50 women and children hostages are set to be released over four days, reciprocating the release of 150 Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails. Israel has indicated that the truce could be extended if more hostages are released at a rate of 10 per day.

The initial 13 hostages released were part of an exchange for 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenagers. The release of the Thai workers, all men, was unrelated to the truce negotiations and followed separate talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

Around 240 hostages, including Thai and Filipino farmworkers employed in southern Israel, were brought back to Gaza by gunmen during a killing spree initiated by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in a social media post, reported the freedom of 12 Thai workers, two more than the figure given by the Qataris. No reason for the discrepancy was provided. Combat between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters ceased for the first time in seven weeks under the truce on the same day.