A cease-fire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday, offering a glimmer of hope after a grueling 15-month conflict. Israel reunited three hostages—Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher—with their families after their release from Gaza. Hamas had captured them during the October 7, 2023, attacks that ignited the war. In exchange, Israel pledged to release 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women and minors, later in the day.
Joyful celebrations swept through Gaza. Residents honked car horns, fired celebratory gunshots, and filled the streets with music. Meanwhile, masked Hamas gunmen paraded through cities as the group moved to reassert control. Hamas-run police, absent during Israeli strikes, redeployed to maintain order.
The cease-fire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, followed months of delicate negotiations. A three-hour delay in releasing hostages prolonged tensions, with Israel continuing airstrikes that killed 19 and injured dozens, according to Palestinian authorities. The truce finally began at 11:15 a.m. local time, halting violence and raising cautious optimism for peace.
