Celebrations and tears of joy as first 90 Palestinian prisoners released - Release of Palestinian detainees comes hours after three Israeli hostages were handed over to military

Once the guns fell silent, Palestinians celebrated in the streets of Gaza while Israelis streamed into Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” to await their return.

The three women were in stable condition, Sheba Medical Center said, and authorities released footage of them reuniting with their families, hugging fiercely and sobbing.

Thousands of Israelis gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, some cheering and some in tears, as a giant television screen broadcast the first glimpse of the first three hostages to be released under the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Hamas is expected to release three hostages Sunday, while Israel will set free around 90 Palestinian prisoners—halting hostilities while a permanent truce is negotiated.

The cleanup of war ruins in the Gaza Strip faces great difficulties due to the extensive destruction and lack of operational construction machinery and vehicles, many of which have been damaged by Israeli attacks.

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has taken hold, raising hopes for an end to the devastating 15-month Israel-Hamas war and the release of dozens of militant-held hostages

Three hostages have been released by Hamas and are in Israeli custody, marking the beginning of the hostage exchange

Israel just released 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first exchange in the cease-fire with Hamas, Israel’s prison service said in a statement early Monday morning. Al Jazeera, the Qatar-funded Arabic broadcaster, streamed footage of Red Cross buses ferrying prisoners out of Ofer prison near Jerusalem after midnight on Monday.

The first-stage ceasefire and hostage deal approved by Israel's cabinet on Saturday is a "complete victory for terrorism," Itamar Ben-Gvir said.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, plans to be a near-constant presence in the region in an attempt to prevent the deal from unraveling.