Israel has released 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of an initial phase in a long-awaited agreement with Hamas, the Israeli prison service announced.
Earlier on Sunday, three Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City. The women, identified as 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, 28, who holds dual British-Israeli citizenship, and 24-year-old Romi Gonen, were later transferred to the Israeli military. They are currently receiving medical care at a Tel Aviv hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has pledged to release one Israeli hostage for every 30 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel. The arrangement marks a fragile but hopeful step toward easing tensions in the region.
The ceasefire, which faced last-minute delays, brought temporary relief to the war-torn area. However, the joy of the truce was overshadowed as many Palestinians returned to scenes of destruction, finding their homes reduced to rubble.
