Gaza residents and Israelis dare to hope as ceasefire takes hold

The sounds of celebration replaced those of explosions in the Gaza Strip on Sunday as a fragile ceasefire came into effect after 470 days of war, allowing some hostages to return home to Israel, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel to be released and displaced Palestinians to search for what was left of their homes in Gaza.

- AARON BOXERMAN, BILAL SHBAIR, HIBA YAZBEK, ISABEL KERSHNER and CHRISTOPHER MAAG

Under the terms of the laboriously reached deal, fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas militants stopped at 11:15 a.m., raising hopes for a more lasting end to a war that has plunged the Middle East into fear and uncertainty.

The first hostages—three women seized when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023—were released shortly afterward. Early Monday, the Israeli prison service said it had released 90 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel, where they were met by excited family members.