Thousands of people, carrying tents, clothes, and their personal belongings, were seen returning home after the war that displaced the majority of Gaza’s population, often multiple times.
The first three Israeli hostages to return home under a long-awaited Gaza truce were handed over to the Red Cross on Sunday, according to a Hamas official and the Israeli military.
The hostages, all women, were “officially handed over to the Red Cross” in Gaza City before being transferred back to Israel, a senior Hamas official told AFP.
This occurred just hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect, though it was delayed by nearly three hours from the scheduled time, after more than 15 months of conflict.
During the delay, Israel’s military reported that operations continued, while Gaza’s civil defense agency stated that 19 people had been killed and 25 others wounded in ongoing bombardments.
Hamas Hands Over First Israeli Hostages as Gaza Truce Begins
The first three Israeli hostages, returning home under a long-awaited Gaza truce, were transferred to the Red Cross on Sunday, as confirmed by both a Hamas official and the Israeli military.
The hostages, all women, were “officially handed over to the Red Cross” in Gaza City before their return to Israel, according to a senior Hamas official.
This exchange took place hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect, though it was delayed by nearly three hours, following more than 15 months of conflict.
During the delay, Israel’s military reported ongoing operations, while Gaza’s civil defense agency confirmed that 19 people were killed and 25 others wounded in airstrikes.
Minutes after the truce began, the United Nations announced the arrival of the first trucks carrying much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Meanwhile, displaced and war-weary Palestinians began their return across the devastated strip.
Thousands of people, carrying tents, clothes, and personal belongings, were seen heading home after the war that displaced most of Gaza’s population—often more than once.
In northern Gaza’s Jabalia area, hundreds walked along a sandy path back to what was left of their homes—an apocalyptic scene of rubble and destruction.
“We are finally home,” said 43-year-old Rana Mohsen in Jabalia. “There’s no home left, just rubble, but it’s still ours.”
Another returning resident, Walid Abu Jiab, spoke of “massive, unprecedented destruction” in Gaza’s northern region, where intense violence had raged in recent months.
In the southern city of Rafah, Ahmad al-Balawi described the overwhelming shock upon his return: “Entire areas have been completely wiped out,” he said, adding that “decomposing bodies, rubble, and destruction” were everywhere.
‘Massive’ Aid Effort
Aid workers report that northern Gaza is particularly hard-hit, lacking essential supplies such as food, shelter, and water.
Jonathan Whittall, interim chief of the UN’s OCHA humanitarian agency for the Palestinian territories, said on X that the first trucks began entering Gaza following the truce, after a “massive effort” to prepare for a surge of aid.
The truce had originally been scheduled to begin at 8:30 am (0630 GMT), but a last-minute dispute over the list of hostages to be freed caused a delay.
Qatar, which mediated the truce, later confirmed that it had gone into effect.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum campaign group identified the three women to be released later on Sunday as Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher.
The Israeli military confirmed that the Red Cross had communicated that the three Israeli hostages had been transferred and were on their way to be taken by Israeli forces.
Hamas had earlier stated that it was waiting for Israel to provide “a list containing the names of 90 prisoners from the categories of women and children” to be released on the first day.
A total of 33 Israeli hostages, 31 of whom were taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, will be returned from Gaza during the initial 42-day truce in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians in Israeli custody.
The truce is intended to pave the way for a permanent end to the war, but details of a second phase have yet to be finalized.
This deal follows months of negotiations between Qatar, the United States, and Egypt.
In a televised address on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the first phase as a “temporary ceasefire” and emphasized that Israel had US support to resume the war if necessary.
In Gaza City, celebrations erupted well before the ceasefire took effect, with people waving Palestinian flags in the streets.
The Israeli army warned Gaza residents early Sunday not to approach its forces or the “buffer zone” near Israeli territory “for your safety.”
In Israel, the ceasefire was met with cautious optimism.
“I don’t trust our side or their side,” said taxi driver David Gutterman. “Always at the last moment something, a problem, can pop up, but all in all, I’m really happy.”
Shai Zaik, an employee at Tel Aviv’s art museum, expressed “mixed feelings” but remained “full of hope” that the hostages would return after many setbacks in the past year.
Israel has set up reception centers to provide medical treatment and counseling for the freed hostages before they are reunited with their families. Health workers have warned of the psychological challenges the hostages may face upon their release.
600 Trucks
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced that 600 trucks a day would enter Gaza following the ceasefire, including 50 trucks carrying fuel.
The war’s only prior truce, a one-week agreement in November 2023, also involved the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas’s October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israel’s history, resulted in 1,210 deaths, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli government figures.
Of the 251 people taken hostage, 94 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead, according to the Israeli military.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes have devastated much of Gaza, with at least 46,913 people killed, the majority civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.
The truce took effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s second-term presidential inauguration. Trump, who claimed credit for the ceasefire deal following months of effort by the outgoing Biden administration, told NBC on Saturday that he had told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu the war “has to end.”
“We want it to end, but to keep doing what has to be done,” he added.
Under the terms of the deal, Israeli forces are to withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, as announced by Qatar’s prime minister.
