DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The first three hostages set to be released from Gaza were transferred to the Red Cross and were on their way toward Israeli forces, the Israeli military announced Sunday, hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold.

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 18 people overnight, including six women and four children, health officials said, as Israel and Hamas appeared to be narrowing in on a ceasefire deal to end the 15-month war and release dozens of hostages.

An Israeli airstrike on Gaza's Deir al-Balah killed at least 10 Palestinians and wounded others, medics told Reuters on Tuesday.

Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip expressed their hope and joy over news of a potential ceasefire deal after mediators said Israel and Hamas were at the closest point yet to sealing an agreement.

A large number of Palestinians in Gaza stepped out of their houses to celebrate Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that was agreed on Wednesday, bringing pause to 15-month-old conflict

Gaza's civil defence agency said on Wednesday that Israeli strikes killed at least 27 people, as the military issued new evacuation calls in northern areas of the Palestinian territory.The latest Israeli strikes come as truce mediator Qatar said negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza were in their "final stages".

Israeli strikes killed at least 78 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip since the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, officials said.