The three civilians form the first group handed over under the agreement that took effect Sunday. Israel will set free around 90 Palestinian prisoners in the first round of exchanges.

Three female Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months have been released and brought back to Israel, after a long-awaited ceasefire deal took effect. Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, who is also a British citizen, were due to be freed in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

FILE PHOTO: Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir is flanked by members of his party as he gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Oren Ben Hakoon/File Photo

Crowds are celebrating in Gaza as they await the expected arrival of Palestinian prisoners freed as part of the ceasefire hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. It comes after three Israeli hostages were freed after 15 months in captivity.

The first three hostages released from Gaza have arrived in Israel, the military announced Sunday, hours after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold. Their mothers were waiting to meet them.

By Mohammed Salem, Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie GAZA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Three Israeli hostages were reunited with their mothers and Palestinians returned to their bombed-out neighborhoods on Sunday with the start of a ceasefire suspending a 15-month-old war that has devastated Gaza and inflamed the Middle East.