The expected swap of more Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners is the second such exchange since a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip last weekend and another test for the deal.

Only a trickle of aid is reaching the area, leaving the Palestine Red Crescent Society teams in Gaza delivering lifesaving aid with much reduced resources. Beatrice Butsana-Sita, chief executive British Red Cross, says: "Before the conflict around 500 ...

The Red Cross said on Saturday it had completed the second phase of release operations as part of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, transferring four Israeli hostages from the enclave and facilitating the release of detainees from Israeli centres.

The first hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023 were released Sunday morning, with 33 hostages expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Israel says an updated list from Hamas "matches Israeli intelligence" - meaning 18 hostages are still to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire.

Long lines of Palestinians -- some kneeling to kiss the soil as they stepped into the northern part of the strip -- were making their way home on Monday.

Displaced Palestinians have begun returning to northern Gaza on Monday (Jan 27), Palestine's interior ministry. Social media images captured thousands of people moving along sandy roads surrounded by the destruction caused by over a year of Israeli airstrikes.

Israel lifted its closure of the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas in accordance with a fragile ceasefire.

As Gazans return to what is left of their homes, they're facing new risks on top of monumental health challenges.

Cairo, Egypt - Recent As the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement takes effect, the Egyptian Red Crescent is working diligently to deliver vital aid and supplies to the Gaza Strip, providing much-needed relief to the region.

Palestinians began arriving in northern Gaza, months after Israel ordered them to flee. The Israel-Hamas truce was holding after it appeared to falter over the weekend.