More than 600 Palestinian captives freed as first phase of Gaza deal concludes

More than 600 Palestinian detainees were freed on Thursday from Israeli jails in the final batch of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas captive exchange and ceasefire deal.

This follows several delays by Israel in the release of more than 640 prisoners, according to figures from the Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) and the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, which was originally scheduled for Saturday.

Around 450 of them were released to Gaza, with several needing immediate medical care upon arrival and were administered into the European Hospital in Khan Younis, in the south of the besieged enclave. 

More than 15 prisoners serving life sentences or long-term sentences were among those released, including 40 freed to the West Bank. 

Read more: More than 600 Palestinian captives freed as first phase of Gaza deal concludes