"The Red Cross has communicated that the three Israeli hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF (military) and ISA (security agency) forces in the Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

A Hamas official moments earlier told AFP that the hostages had been handed over to the Red Cross at Al-Saraya Square in western Gaza City.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group had identified the three women set to be released as Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher, seized during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war.