Four hostages freed but Israel blocks Palestinian return to northern Gaza

Israeli female soldier hostages wave and react at a Palestinian crowd before being handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City (Abed Hajjar/AP)

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

Israel was set to release 200 Palestinian prisoners or detainees later in the day as part of the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.