China says it welcomes prisoner swap, calls for stability

China on Monday said it welcomed the release of captives by Hamas as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal, news agency AFP reported. 

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China hailed the developments while calling for stability in the region. 

Hamas began releasing living Israeli captives on Monday as part of a deal to end the war in Gaza and facilitate a prisoner exchange.

Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades handed over seven Israeli captives to the International Red Cross in Gaza. Israeli media confirmed that the military has received the seven captives. 

A further thirteen captives are expected to be released within the next few hours.

Israeli authorities are also set to release 1,966 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving long or life sentences, and approximately 1,700 individuals who were detained from the Gaza Strip over the past two years.