1,966 Palestinian detainees set to be released from Israeli prisons board busses

All 1,966 Palestinian detainees set to be released from the Israeli prison have boarded buses, officials involved in the operation told Reuters on Monday. 

Israeli authorities are also set to release the Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving long or life sentences, and approximately 1,700 individuals who were detained from the Gaza Strip over the past two years.

Hamas also began releasing living Israeli captives on Monday as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange.

According to Al Jazeera, the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, handed over seven living Israeli captives to the International Red Cross in Gaza.

Israeli media confirmed that the military has received the seven captives. 

A further thirteen captives are expected to be released within the next two hours.