The Palestinian prisoners released by Israel include 120 who were serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis. Around 70 were released into Egypt after being banned from returning to Israeli or Palestinian territory. (AP video by Mohammad Jahjouh)

Dozens of the prisoners, who were freed on Saturday as part of a cease-fire and hostage deal, had been serving life sentences in Israeli jails for attacks against Israelis.

Hamas militants have handed over four captive female Israeli soldiers to the Red Cross in Gaza City after parading them in front of a crowd.

The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel, and desperately needed aid is beginning to flow into the enclave. Follow for live updates.

Mughrabi and Dawoud Abu Alkas JERUSALEM/CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -The Palestinian militant movement Hamas released four female Israeli soldier hostages on Saturday, in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners,

The hostages were released in a staged handover that saw them surrounded by Hamas gunmen and crowds of civilians.

Israel and Hamas executed the group's second prisoner exchange during the current ceasefire agreement on Saturday.

Thousands of Palestinians chanted praise of Hamas on Saturday as they welcomed prisoners freed under a ceasefire deal between the militant group and Israel that saw four Israeli hostages also return home.

Hamas on Friday announced the names of four Israeli women soldiers to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.