Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed the release of 24 hostages after seven weeks of captivity in the Gaza Strip.

“Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen,” said Majed al-Ansari, the ministry's spokesman. Qatar was a key mediator in the hostage release.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which delivered the hostages from Gaza to Egypt, also confirmed the release.

The Israeli military said the hostages, women and children have returned to Israel. In a statement on Friday, military officials said the hostages underwent an initial medical check inside Israeli territory. They were to be accompanied by Israeli soldiers to hospitals to be reunited with their families.

Later on Friday, a Palestinian official said 33 Palestinians were released by Israel from a West Bank prison. It was the first stage in a swap under a four-day ceasefire deal.

Israel declared war against Hamas after the Islamic militant group killed at least 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 others in an October 7 cross-border attack. The war also has killed over 13,000 Palestinians and caused widespread damage in Gaza, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory.

The ceasefire agreement brought the first respite for beleaguered residents of Gaza and opened the way for sorely needed aid to flow in. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas' October 7 attack, which triggered the war.