First Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners released as ceasefire between Israel and Hamas goes into effect
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas came into effect in the Gaza Strip Sunday morning.
TEL AVIV — Israelis celebrated the return Sunday evening of the first wave of hostages from the Gaza Strip, hours after Israel and Hamas' long-awaited ceasefire went into effect and spurred many displaced Palestinians to begin the journey home by foot after 15 months of brutal conflict.
Many hope the hard-fought reprieve will usher in a permanent end to the fighting that has left more than 46,800 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, according to local health officials, and allow the rebuilding of the enclave, much of it reduced to ruins by ferocious Israeli airstrikes and shelling.
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President Joe Biden celebrated the safe return of three female hostages — the first in a coordinated effort expected to continue in the coming days — and said a ceasefire in Gaza was reached due to "the pressure Israel put on Hamas backed by the United States."
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