Palestinian militant group Hamas has handed over three Israeli hostages as dozens of Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in exchange, in the latest stage of a ceasefire aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza.
Ofer Kalderon, a French-Israeli dual citizen, and Yarden Bibas were handed over to Red Cross officials in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis before being transferred to Israel.
Israeli-US citizen Keith Siegel was separately handed over at the Gaza City seaport.
Hours later, 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in the exchange.
Among them, 150 arrived in Gaza while 32 got off a bus in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where they were greeted by large crowds.
One freed prisoner will be exiled to Egypt, according to the Hamas prisoners' media office.
"I feel joy despite the journey of pain and hardship that we lived," Ali Al-Barghouti, who was serving two life sentences in an Israeli jail, said.
"The life sentence was broken and the occupation will one day be broken," he added.
In Israel, crowds gathered at the location in Tel Aviv known as Hostage Square to watch the release in the morning of the Israeli hostages on giant outdoor screens, mixing cheers and applause with tears as the three men appeared.
Israeli captive Yarden Bibas was one of three hostages released to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza. Source: Getty / Andalou
"Ofer Kalderon is free! We share the immense relief and joy of his loved ones after 483 days of unimaginable hell," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement.
Saturday's handover saw none of when Hamas guards struggled to shield hostages from a surging crowd in Gaza.
But it was once again an occasion for a show of force by uniformed Hamas fighters who paraded in the area where the handovers took place in a sign of their re-established dominance in the strip despite the heavy losses suffered in the war.
Large crowds welcomed 32 Palestinians, who were released from Israeli jails on Saturday, back to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Source: Getty / Anadolu
Negotiations continue on release of remaining hostages, Israeli withdrawal
The total number of hostages freed so far is 18, including who were part of an unscheduled release on Thursday.
After Saturday's exchange, Israel will have released 583 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including militants serving life sentences for deadly attacks as well as some detained during the war but not charged.
As the fighting has abated, diplomatic efforts to build a wider settlement have stepped up.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday with the Gaza Strip ceasefire and a possible normalisation of relations with Saudi Arabia as part of a postwar deal likely to be a focus.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, 33 children, women and older male hostages as well as sick and injured, were due to be released, with more than 60 men of military age left for a second phase which must still be worked out.
Negotiations are due to start by Tuesday on agreements for the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip in a second phase of the deal, which is intended to lead to a final end of the war in the Palestinian enclave.
The initial six-week ceasefire, agreed with Egyptian and Qatari mediators and backed by the United States, that have led both sides to accuse the other of violating the deal.
The killed some 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Israel's campaign in response has and killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities.
