Hamas has released hostages, while Israel has freed Palestinian prisoners on the first day of the ceasefire

Hamas released three Israeli hostages while Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, marking the first day of a ceasefire that has paused a 15-month conflict severely impacting the Gaza Strip and escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The ceasefire enabled Palestinians to return to their devastated neighborhoods to start the rebuilding process, as relief trucks brought essential supplies. In other areas of Gaza, crowds celebrated the return of Hamas fighters who had been in hiding.

Fireworks lit up the sky as buses carrying the released Palestinian prisoners arrived in Ramallah on the West Bank, where thousands gathered to greet them. Among those released were 69 women and 21 teenage boys from the West Bank and Jerusalem, as reported by Hamas.

In Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis expressed their emotions in a square outside the defense headquarters, watching a live broadcast from Gaza that showed three female hostages entering a Red Cross vehicle, escorted by Hamas fighters.

The Israeli military confirmed that Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari had been reunited with their mothers, releasing a video that indicated they were in good health. Damari, who lost two fingers during her abduction, smiled as she embraced her mother while displaying her bandaged hand.

“I would like you to convey this message: Romi, Doron, and Emily – an entire nation welcomes you back. Welcome home,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a commander via phone.

The ceasefire agreement stipulates a halt to hostilities, the delivery of aid to Gaza, and the release of 33 of the nearly 100 remaining Israeli and foreign hostages over the first six weeks, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities. Many of the hostages are feared to be deceased. In northern Gaza, Palestinians navigated through a landscape of destruction, marked by rubble and twisted metal from the war’s most intense clashes.

The recent last-minute offensive resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel attributed the delay in receiving the names of hostages to be released to Hamas, asserting that it targeted terrorists in response. Hamas, on the other hand, claimed that the delay was due to technical issues.

“Today, the guns in Gaza have fallen silent,” stated U.S. President Joe Biden on his final full day in office, expressing relief over a ceasefire that had been elusive for U.S. diplomacy for over a year. “This moment has been achieved due to the pressure Israel exerted on Hamas, with support from the United States.”

For Hamas, the ceasefire presented a chance to step back into the public eye after 15 months of seclusion. Hamas police, clad in blue uniforms, quickly took to the streets in certain areas, while armed militants paraded through the southern city of Khan Younis, where onlookers shouted, “Greetings to Al-Qassam Brigades,” referring to the group’s military wing.

“All resistance factions remain steadfast despite Netanyahu,” one fighter remarked to Reuters.

TRUMP AIDE: ‘HAMAS WILL NEVER GOVERN GAZA’

Currently, there is no comprehensive strategy for governing Gaza post-conflict, let alone for its reconstruction. The potential return of Hamas would challenge Israel’s resolve, as the nation has indicated it will resume military action unless the militant organization is entirely dismantled.

Hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir resigned from the cabinet in protest of the ceasefire, although his party has stated it will not attempt to topple Netanyahu’s administration. Meanwhile, another prominent hardliner, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, remains in the government but has indicated he will resign if the conflict concludes without the complete destruction of Hamas.

The ceasefire came into effect just before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday. Mike Waltz, who is set to be Trump’s national security adviser, stated that should Hamas violate the agreement, the United States would back Israel “in taking necessary actions.” He emphasized, “Hamas will never govern Gaza. That is completely unacceptable.”

In the devastated streets of Gaza City, crowds were already gathering, waving Palestinian flags and capturing the moment on their mobile devices. Numerous carts filled with personal belongings moved along a road littered with rubble and debris.

Ahmed Abu Ayham, a 40-year-old resident of Gaza City, expressed that although the ceasefire might have saved lives, the extensive losses and destruction left little room for celebration. “We are in pain, deep pain, and it is time to embrace one another and weep,” he remarked.