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.

The humanitarian aid trucks have started heading to the Gaza Strip via Rafah border crossing with Egypt simultaneously with the Gaza ceasefire deal that took effect on

Qatar's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majed Al Ansari confirmed on Sunday that the Gaza ceasefire has officially begun as a list of three hostages to be released that day has been handed over to Israel.

Mediator Qatar says the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time.

Egypt, Qatar, and the US issued a joint statement on Wednesday on the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas for the exchange of prisoners and detainees and the establishment of sustainable calm,

A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is set to begin Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, facilitated by Qatar. The truce will last 42 days in its first phase and involves the exchange of hostages and prisoners. Thirty-three Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for 737 Palestinian detainees, including women and minors.

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

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — 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.

Ninety Palestinians were to be released from Israeli prisons on Sunday as the ceasefire in Gaza appeared to hold.

The first three hostages set to be released from Gaza were transferred to the Red Cross and were on their way toward Israeli forces, the Israeli military announced Sunday, hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold.

Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of more hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, mediator Qatar announced on Wednesday evening.