RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — After 15 months of collective grief and anxiety, three Israeli hostages left Hamas captivity and returned to Israel, and dozens of Palestinian prisoners walked free from Israeli jail, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians torn between celebration and trepidation as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold Sunday.

By The Associated Press A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday as Hamas released the first three female hostages it held for 15 months of the devastating war with Israel. The

The first three hostages were released from Gaza and the first Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli custody as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold following 15 months

On day one of the Gaza ceasefire, 3 Israeli hostages, 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women, children, freed, igniting hopes for peace.

The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m. local time, is just the first step toward ultimately ending the conflict and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were freed from Gaza. Thirty more hostages are set to be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Now, I can have something different," she joked. In the kitchen, there were hugs from family members and friends, her mother sitting at the table watching on, happy her only daughter was finally home as a result of the Gaza ceasefire deal that saw Hamas start to release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails on Sunday.

In an Instagram story, which was shared by Israeli media, Damari thanked her family and the large protest movement that coalesced to advocate for the release of the hostages. “Thank you thank you thank you I’m the happiest in the world,