Gaza City — The first phase of a landmark Gaza peace agreement between Hamas and Israel has begun, with seven Israeli hostages released on Monday in exchange for the initial group of Palestinian prisoners. The exchange is being supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), marking the first tangible progress since the truce was announced.

According to Arab media reports, Red Cross vehicles arrived in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah to facilitate the transfer process between the two sides. The humanitarian organization is overseeing the operation to ensure that the exchange proceeds safely and in accordance with international protocols.

Under the terms of the deal, the broader plan envisions the release of 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for more than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The exchange process is set to take place in multiple stages, with Monday’s release marking the start of the first phase.

Foreign news agencies reported that buses carrying Palestinian detainees have departed from various Israeli prisons toward designated handover points. Many of the freed prisoners are expected to reunite with their families in the occupied West Bank and parts of Gaza later today, while others will be transferred under international supervision to ensure security coordination.

Sources indicate that the list of Palestinian prisoners includes women, minors, and individuals detained without formal charges under Israel’s administrative detention system. Rights groups have long criticized the widespread use of such detentions as a violation of due process.

Meanwhile, Israeli hostages released by Hamas were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza before being transported to Egypt through the Rafah crossing, and later onward to Israel for medical evaluation and debriefing. Israeli officials confirmed that the hostages are being examined by doctors and reunited with their families in secure facilities.

The implementation of the prisoner exchange is part of a broader ceasefire framework negotiated through Qatari and Egyptian mediation, with active involvement from the United Nations. The agreement aims to reduce hostilities in Gaza after months of intense violence that left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement that “the exchange represents a critical humanitarian step and a confidence-building measure toward sustaining the ceasefire and enabling further negotiations.”

For families on both sides, the exchange carries deep emotional significance. In Gaza, crowds gathered outside Red Cross offices and along main roads, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans celebrating the anticipated release of prisoners. In Israel, families of hostages expressed cautious relief, while urging their government to continue efforts to bring home all remaining captives.

Analysts view the deal as a tentative step toward de-escalation, though they caution that sustaining peace will require continued diplomacy and restraint. The truce, brokered under intense international pressure, includes commitments to open humanitarian corridors, expand aid deliveries into Gaza, and prevent further military incursions.

International humanitarian agencies have welcomed the development, noting that any progress in reducing violence and securing prisoner releases offers hope for broader reconciliation. “The ICRC’s role is purely humanitarian — to facilitate the safe transfer of persons and ensure their dignity and safety throughout the process,” said an ICRC representative in a brief statement.

Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Both Hamas and Israeli officials have stressed that the deal’s continuation depends on full compliance by the other side. Previous ceasefires have often collapsed amid renewed hostilities or disputes over the terms of implementation.

Still, Monday’s exchange has injected a rare sense of relief into a region exhausted by months of conflict. If subsequent phases proceed as planned, hundreds more Palestinians and the remaining Israeli hostages could be freed in the coming days, potentially paving the way for further negotiations on a lasting peace.