DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The first three hostages released from Gaza arrived in Israel on Sunday for tearful reunions with families, hours after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold following 15 months of war. Palestinians waited for the first release of prisoners held by Israel.

Smotrich said he has received assurances that Israel will resume the war after the first phase, during which 33 hostages held in Gaza are to return home and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be freed. The second phase, which must still be negotiated, is to work out an end to the war and return of all remaining hostages.

The Israeli military says the first three hostages set to be released from Gaza have been transferred to the Red Cross and are on their way toward Israeli forces, hours after the ceasefire between Isr

U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators shuttled between the Israeli and Hamas delegations in Doha on Tuesday, where officials said a deal to halt the war is near.

Palestinian prisoners released as part of the exchange expressed mixed emotions, celebrating freedom while mourning the ongoing devastation in Gaza.

The three released Israeli hostages were reunited with their mothers after more than 15 months at the reception point in Re'im, southern Israel, on Sunday evening.