The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the release of Israeli hostages after more 738 days in captivity in Gaza.

The UN Chief will attend a peace summit in Gaza in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh later on Monday.

Guterres said he was profoundly relieved that the 20 living hostages had regained their freedom and would soon be reunited with their loved ones after the immense suffering they had endured.

He reiterated his call for the release of the remains of the deceased hostages and urged all parties to build on this momentum and to honour their commitments under the ceasefire to end the nightmare in Gaza.

He said the United Nations was working to support all efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of civilians amid increased humanitarian access into the devastated enclave.

VIDEO |Red Cross weighs in on the release of Israeli hostages