Hamas militants on Saturday released four female Israeli soldiers they held captive for 15 months in a planned exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in Israel.

The women are the first three hostages to be released under the newly implemented ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas

President Biden released a statement following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire announcement Wednesday, saying release of American hostages will be included in the agreement.

The first three Israeli hostages were released after the ceasefire officially began. Hours later, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

About 90 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel were also freed Sunday as part of a hostage and prisoner exchange, due to last for weeks, between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire has raised hopes the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, where almost 47,000 Palestinians have been killed and the enclave has been reduced to ruins, could be brought to an end.

The outgoing Israeli ambassador to the United States, Mike Herzog, told Axios on Monday that he expects the 47th president to reverse the US weapons-supply ban within his first few days back in

Hamas militants on Saturday handed over to the Red Cross four Israeli women hostages under a truce deal in the Gaza war that is also expected to see a second

Phase one of the deal states that Hamas officials will release a total of 33 hostages, many of whom are children, women and people over 50. In return, Israeli officials will release 50 Palestinian prisoners held in their jails for every Israeli female soldier released by Hamas, and 30 Palestinian prisoners for other hostages held by Hamas.

Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for the release of hostages from Gaza and a cease-fire, Fox News has confirmed from a source briefed on the matter.

Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners in return, according to a statement from the its prison service, the Associated Press and New York Times reported. The ceasefire deal was supposed to take effect at 1:30 a.m. ET but was delayed by nearly three hours until Hamas released the list of hostage names to Israeli officials.

However, Israel and Hamas are currently engaged in a back-and-forth argument over the continued captivity of a civilian woman hostage, which is being worked out through the mediators of the ceasefire. As a result, the IDF has not yet withdrawn from the Netzarim corridor and thousands of Palestinians are waiting to return north are forced to wait.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s orders could force many groups working on global aid to stop their programs. And the White House has approved sending more 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.