Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages it held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire that offered a small glimmer of relief to both sides.
![Hamas, Israel conduct hostage-for-prisoner swap on first day of temporary truce](https://s.france24.com/media/display/148fe51a-8b13-11ee-937f-005056bf30b7/w:1024/p:16x9/000_344T3TU.jpg)
Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages it held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire that offered a small glimmer of relief to both sides.