Three Israeli Hostages Released as Gaza Ceasefire Begins

The first phase of a six-week agreement sees the release of three women held by Hamas, with further negotiations and prisoner exchanges planned.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher were freed after over 15 months in Hamas captivity and handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza.
The agreement includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners over the next six weeks.
The ceasefire marks the first pause in fighting since November 2023, with both sides preparing for further negotiations and humanitarian aid expansion in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the right to resume military action if the agreement fails, as 94 hostages remain in Gaza.
International leaders, including Olaf Scholz and Joe Biden, welcomed the ceasefire and called for continued efforts to secure the release of all hostages.