The six high-profile Palestinian prisoners being negotiated over

The first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza has taken effect, with a prisoner exchange now set to follow in the coming days. 

At 12pm local time, the truce began, with Israeli tanks pulling back from al-Rashid Road, which runs from Gaza's north to south. 

The next stage of the agreement, the prisoner exchange, is scheduled to take place on Monday at midday, 72 hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas officially began.

It will include the release of the estimated 20 living captives, as well as several bodies of dead Israelis held in Gaza, believed to be 28 others.

In exchange, Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and hundreds of men, women and children seized from Gaza and held without charge.

Read more: The six high-profile Palestinian prisoners being negotiated over