The ceasefire has taken force and three hostages are back in Israel

A truce between Israel and Hamas is starting in Gaza, providing a relief for Palestinians and permitting the first of 33 Israeli prisoners to be released.

On Sunday, three Israeli women were freed from captivity in Gaza and reunited with family and friends in Israel, after the implementation of a long-awaited cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. The truce sparked jubilation in Gaza, relief for relatives of Israeli detainees and Palestinian inmates, and renewed optimism for an end to the catastrophic 15-month war.

The rescued captives were named by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office as Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, who were abducted during the Hamas-led strikes on Israel on October 7, 2023, that sparked the war. Israel was set to free 90 Palestinian inmates, all of whom were women or youngsters, later on Sunday in return for the hostages.

The three ladies, who had been held hostage for 471 days, were claimed by Red Cross personnel to be in good condition, although they are being treated at the Sheba Medical Center on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

The first part of the agreement will involve the staggered release of 30 additional Israeli captives from Gaza. In return, Israel is likely to release over 2,000 Palestinian inmates. With the second and third stages of the ceasefire questionable, there is no guarantee that Israel would not continue its assault of Gaza.