The cease-fire is also a beacon of hope for Palestinians who have suffered immensely during Israel’s 15-month campaign to eradicate Hamas. The Palestinian civilian death toll is estimated to be in the tens of thousands, with more than 80 percent of the population internally displaced.

Hamas-led militants freed eight hostages on Thursday in the latest release since a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took hold earlier this month. Israel was expected to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners.

In our news wrap Thursday, Hamas freed eight hostages and Israel handed over more than 100 Palestinian prisoners in a third round of exchanges, officials in Ukraine say a Russian drone attack killed at least six people in the northeastern city of Sumy and an appeals court ruled a federal ban on handgun sales to adults under 21 violates the Second Amendment.