Hamas frees 24 hostages in ceasefire exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners

People react as they hear the news of the release of Israeli hostages (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Hamas has released 24 hostages who had been held captive in the Gaza Strip for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day ceasefire deal.

The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar.