Follow NBC News live updates for the latest coverage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but the chaotic handover of some of the captives, who were shuttled through a rowdy crowd of thousands by masked militants,

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a delay of the release on Thursday of Palestinian detainees under the Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas until the safe exit of Israeli hostages was guaranteed in the next few days,

The truce is aimed at winding down the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel sparked the fighting.

After the chaotic handover in southern Gaza, Zivan Frieden, a spokesman for Israel’s prisons authority, said in a statement that the release of over 100 Palestinian prisoners had been suspended, without providing further details.

The Palestinian prisoners released by Israel include 120 who were serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis. Around 70 were released into Egypt after being banned from returning to Israeli or Palestinian territory. (AP video by Mohammad Jahjouh)

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, is to be released Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Dozens of the prisoners, who were freed on Saturday as part of a cease-fire and hostage deal, had been serving life sentences in Israeli jails for attacks against Israelis.