The first three hostages were released from Gaza, and the first Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli custody, as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold following 15 months of war,

On day one of the Gaza ceasefire, 3 Israeli hostages, 90 Palestinian prisoners, including women, children, freed, igniting hopes for peace.

The prisoners and hostages are being released in the first phase of a long-awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Sunday's delayed start to the Gaza ceasefire and incidents on Monday in which Israeli troops shot at Palestinians approaching them underline some of the hiccups likely to face a deal that will play out in the shadow of mutual mistrust and bitterness.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, ushering in an initial six-week period of calm and raising hopes for the release of dozens of militant-held hostages and an end to the devastating 15-month war.

Once the guns fell silent, Palestinians celebrated in the streets of Gaza while Israelis streamed into Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” to await their return.

A long-delayed ceasefire in the Gaza war began taking hold as Hamas released three female hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

A crowd of Israelis erupted in joy when they learned three women held captive for 15 months by Hamas had been freed as a tentative cease-fire took hold, which would see Palestinians released from Israeli jails,