The Israeli occupation army announced, on Sunday, that it had received 3 female prisoners from the International Red Cross, who were released by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, as part of the first phase of the exchange deal between the two parties.

"A special unit of the IDF and a force from the Shin Bet (internal security) are escorting the three returning kidnapped (prisoners) on their way to Israeli territory," the Israeli army said in a statement.

The statement continued: "There they will undergo an initial medical evaluation."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the released female prisoners had arrived in Israel.

The private Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper and other Hebrew media outlets said that Red Cross crews confirmed to the army during the handover of the female prisoners that they were in good health.