Israel released early Monday morning, the Israel Prison Service confirmed, the first group of 90 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and children, as part of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The release comes after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages,

There is no detailed plan in place to govern Gaza after the war, much less rebuild it. Any return of Hamas will test the patience of Israel, which has said it will resume fighting unless the group is dismantled.

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

After 15 months of war, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday morning.

By The Associated Press A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday as Hamas released the first three female hostages it held for 15 months of the devastating war with Israel. The

The agreement for the swap, laid out as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, involves Hamas gradually releasing 33 Israeli hostages held in the Palestinian enclave over the next six weeks in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 prisoners and detainees from the West Bank and Gaza.

Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, the first three hostages released from Gaza, have arrived in Israel. In Tel Aviv, thousands of people gathered to watch the news on

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher crossed into Israel on a military transport after being driven out of Gaza City in a Red Cross vehicle, Israel said.

Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The release came early on Monday, more than seven hours after three Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza returned to Israel.