Monday Briefing: A Gaza Cease-Fire Begins

The start of a truce in Gaza

Several Israeli hostages were released from captivity in Gaza yesterday and were reunited with their families, the Israeli military said, as a 42-day cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect. Follow our live coverage.

The first hostages released were three women: Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher. Israel was expected to release 90 Palestinian prisoners, all women or minors, in exchange for the hostages. The truce prompted celebrations in Gaza, relief for families of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, and hope for an end to a devastating 15-month war.

Israeli officers said their forces had begun to withdraw from parts of Gaza. Hamas sought to reassert control, with masked gunmen taking to the streets in several cities.

The start of the initial six-week phase yesterday was delayed by almost three hours, with Israel saying it had not formally received the names of the first three hostages to be released. During the delay, the Israeli military continued striking targets in Gaza.

Hostages and prisoners: Hamas is expected to stagger the release of 33 hostages — of the roughly 100 it still holds — during the first phase of the cease-fire; a “vast majority” of the 33 are still alive, an Israeli military spokesman said. In exchange, Israel is expected to begin releasing more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

What’s next: Israel and Hamas reached the cease-fire agreement in part by putting off their greatest disputes until a nebulous “second phase” that neither side is sure it will reach. During the first phase, 600 trucks will be allowed to bring aid to Gazans daily. Israel will still occupy parts of Gaza and hold high-profile prisoners.