The Palestinian militant group Hamas is expected to hand over three Israelis on Saturday, in the latest stage of a gradual exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners under a truce aimed at opening the way to ending the 15-month war in Gaza.

The Israeli organization representing families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip celebrated the news Friday that three high-profile male hostages would be released by Hamas the following day. In turn,

Hamas released eight hostages, including three Israelis and five Thais, as part of a hostage-for-prisoner exchange.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is underway and hostages are being released in stages. But after the initial jubilation of being freed, the released captives — who have been held for more than 15 months — are likely to endure a trying reentry, based on the testimony of those who were held hostage themselves.

Hamas freed three Israelis and five Thai nationals in exchange for more than 100 Palestinians. But the militant group struggled to control crowds, prompting a delay.

Buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arrived to cheers in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, after chaos during the release by Gaza militants of three Israeli hostages and five Thais