First day of Israel and Hamas truce: Three Israelis released, Palestinian prisoners released

First day of the ceasefire in the leveled with the simultaneous release of the first three Israelis Hamas held since October 2023. At the same time, the first Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons were released. The three Israeli hostages released Sunday (19.01.2020) from Hamas to Gaza were taken to a hospital where they met with their families and received medical attention on the first day of the cease-fire between the Israeli army and the Palestinian organization, to the destroyed after 15 months of war, Gaza. ADVERSE Thousands of displaced Palestinians took their way home when the guns were silenced at 12:15 on Sunday – local time. Most people will find nothing but ruins. The truce, implemented on the eve of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, was implemented with a three-hour delay, as long as Hamas did not hand over the list of the first three Israeli hostages to be released in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. It is Israeli-British Emily Damari (28 years old), Israeli-Romana Doron Steinbrecher (31 years old), who were kidnapped by kibbutz Kfar Aza, as well as Romi Conen (24 years old), who was kidnapped at the Nova festival during the Hamas massacre attack on 7 October 2023. CORVERSE Romi Gonen in her mother’s arms (Reuters) Doron Steinbrecher (Reuters) A little hour later, the Israeli army announced that “the three Israeli hostages were on their way to the meeting point in southern Israel”. The IDF releases footage showing the moment the Red Cross handled over hosts Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher to special forces in the Gaza Strip. — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) “It is a moment of great emotion,” said Israeli Army spokesman Daniel Hagari. “The three hostages formally surrendered to the International Committee of the Red Cross (…) west of Gaza City,” a Hamas official said late Sunday afternoon. Hamas Military Wing/Handout via REUTERS Hamas Military Wing/Handout via REUTERS Hamas Military Wing/Handout via REUTERS Supreme Hamas official stated by Doha, Qatar where negotiations were held that the next hostage group would be released the following Saturday (25.01.2025). At the same time, as the Arab network “al arabiya” broadcasts, the first Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons were also released. The process of identification of the Palestinians by the Red Cross in Opher prisons, was completed and was “marathonia”. The Palestinian Authority’s press office reported in an announcement that some of those released from Israeli prisons arrived with their families in East Jerusalem. A total of 90 Palestinians are to be released, to the majority of women and minors. The start of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement raises hopes of peace in the Palestinian enclave, despite the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu warning that it is a “temporary ceasefire” and that Israel “preserves the right to resume hostilities”. The Ezendin al-Casham Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, warned that the truce depends on Israel’s observance of commitments. The achievement of the agreement was announced on 15 January by the mediators, Qatar, Egypt and the USA, and according to Doha, it aspires to end the war in the long term. “After so many sufferings, weapons were silenced in Gaza,” Biden said U.S. outgoing president Joe Biden expressed satisfaction at the fact that the Middle East is a “fundamentally transformed region” after the ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages which was put into effect. “After so many suffering, disasters, loss of human lives, weapons were silenced in Gaza,” said Joe Biden from South Carolina where he spends his last hours as president of the United States. “The area is now fundamentally transformed. Hamas leader Yahia Sinwar is dead. Hamas’ support in the Middle East is deeply weakened by Israel, with the support of the United States, and one of Hamas’ biggest supporters, Hezbollah, has also been weakened” in Lebanon, Joe Biden said. Expressing satisfaction that “the United States sealed a ceasefire in Lebanon” he said “his regime (Bashar al) Assad in Syria fell, cutting off Iran’s access to Lebanon”. Tehran has been “in its weakest position for decades,” she said. For the “Palestinian people” he said there is “a credible path towards an independent state” and advocated “the restoration of Israel’s relations with all neighbouring Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. “It is now up to the next (American) government to help implement this agreement. I am pleased that our groups have spoken with one voice in recent days,” he concluded. 600 trucks with humanitarian aid and fuel a day in Gaza “To see the hostages find their families again fill our hearts with hope,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leien after the release of the first three Israeli hostages and welcomed the ceasefire agreement which Europe will “support”. “Romy Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher are free. Others will follow. Let this be the beginning for a new chapter on Israel and the Palestinian people… The ceasefire must be observed,” she wrote in a message to H. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it is imperative that the ceasefire lift the obstacles to transferring aid to the Gaza Strip. According to Egypt, the agreement provides for the entry of 600 trucks with humanitarian aid and fuel daily. A few minutes after the armistice, which also provides for an increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the UN announced the arrival of the first trucks carrying aid. The UN World Food Programme (PAM) announced efforts are being made to supply a million Gazans with food as soon as possible after opening crossing points. “We send flour, ready meals and we will work on all fronts to supply the ovens” and to supply the undernourished children with food supplements, the executive director of PAM, Karl Skau, said from Rome. “The deal provides for the entry of 660 trucks daily… all passages are open,” he added. PAM’s first trucks entered Gaza on Sunday from Kerem Shalom’s crossing point, in the south, and the Zikim crossing point, in the north, announced the PAM. During the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire, 33 total Israeli hostages are foreseen in exchange for the release of many hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and according to Joe Biden, the departure of Israeli forces from the densely populated Gaza areas. During the first phase of the truce the details of the second phase will be discussed, including the release of all hostages, while the third phase refers to the “rebuilding” of the Palestinian enclave and the surrender of the bodies of hostages who died during the hostage-taking. Referring to the issue of Gaza Strip governance after the war, French President Emanuel Macron stressed to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas the importance “of restoring Palestinian governance in Gaza with the participation of the Palestinian Authority”.