The Israeli military announced Sunday that the first three hostages set to be released under the fragile Gaza ceasefire have been transferred to Israeli forces.

This comes hours after the truce between Israel and Hamas took effect.

Live footage broadcast by Qatar-based Al Jazeera showed the hostages walking to Red Cross vehicles in Gaza City.

The vehicles, accompanied by armed Hamas members wearing green headbands, were surrounded by thousands of people as the convoy moved through the city.

In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered in Rabin Square to watch the news on large screens and erupted in cheers upon learning of the hostages’ release.

Many of those present had been part of ongoing demonstrations calling for a ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire officially began at 11:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, marking the first step toward ending the 15-month conflict and securing the release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza.

The agreement, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, was delayed by nearly three hours due to last-minute negotiations by Hamas, underscoring the fragility of the deal.

The truce is set to last 42 days and will include the release of 33 hostages from Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israeli officials confirmed that Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, were the first hostages to be released.

Gonen was abducted from the Nova music festival, while Damari and Steinbrecher were taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Damari is also an Israeli-British dual citizen.

Israel announced earlier on Sunday that 90 Palestinian prisoners would be released as part of the exchange.

In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, Israeli forces launched attacks that killed at least 26 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The ministry did not specify whether the casualties were civilians or militants.

The Israeli military has advised civilians to avoid areas near its forces as they reposition within Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel’s hardline national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced that his Jewish Power faction would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in protest over the ceasefire agreement.

While Ben-Gvir’s departure weakens Netanyahu’s coalition, it will not affect the terms of the truce.

In a separate development, Israel announced it had recovered the remains of Oron Shaul, a soldier killed during the 2014 Israel-Hamas war.

Shaul’s body, along with that of another soldier, Hadar Goldin, had remained in Gaza since the 2014 conflict.

The operation to recover Shaul’s remains was conducted during the ongoing fighting.

The truce has raised hopes for a longer-term resolution, with displaced Palestinians beginning to return home.

Celebrations erupted across Gaza, though many residents returned to find widespread destruction.

In Rafah, residents described scenes of devastation, with human remains found among the rubble of destroyed homes.

“It’s like you see a Hollywood horror movie,” said Mohamed Abu Taha, who surveyed the ruins of his family’s home.

The United Nations’ World Food Program reported that humanitarian aid had begun flowing into Gaza through two border crossings, with hundreds of trucks expected to deliver supplies daily.

The conflict has taken an immense toll. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children making up more than half of the fatalities.

The Hamas-led attack that initiated the war in October 2023 resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, with militants abducting approximately 250 people.

The United Nations estimates that 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and significant rebuilding efforts will be needed if the ceasefire holds.

As negotiations for the next phase of the truce approach, questions about Gaza’s political future and the fate of remaining hostages remain unanswered.