Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were the first three hostages released from Gaza on Sunday morning. They arrived in Israel, the military announced, hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold.
A Hamas official said on Monday the Palestinian militant group would next release hostages on Sunday, a day later than expected under a complex ceasefire accord reached this month with Israel.
Follow NBC News' live coverage as Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire deal to halt the Gaza war and release hostages, while Biden and Trump react.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was treating the ceasefire as temporary and retained the right to continue fighting if necessary.
The deal brings hope for Palestinians facing food shortages and widespread death and destruction, but its terms are controversial for an Israeli public traumatized by the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack—and wary of security concessions. Israel’s cabinet still has to give the deal its blessing.