Israel and Hamas Begin Ceasefire Agreement with Prisoner Releases

In a significant development following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released as part of the first phase of the deal, according to the Israeli prison service. The ceasefire came into effect after a brief delay, offering a momentary reprieve to the war-torn region.

Earlier on Sunday, three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza City, hours after the ceasefire began. The women, identified as 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, 28-year-old Emily Damari, a dual British-Israeli citizen, and 24-year-old Romi Gonen, were handed over to the Israeli military after their release. They are currently receiving treatment in a Tel Aviv hospital, and all three are reported to be in stable condition.

In a video shared by the BBC, Emily Damari was seen with bandages covering two missing fingers, embracing her mother in an emotional video call.

Hamas has stated that for every Israeli hostage released, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli jails. While the release of prisoners brings some relief, many Palestinians returned to their homes to find widespread destruction, overshadowing the brief moment of joy provided by the ceasefire.