Israel released 90 Palestinian detainees early Monday as part of a ceasefire with Hamas, with more than 230 slated for release under the agreement set to be deported primarily to Qatar and Turkey, two Hamas officials told Agence France-Presse.

The detainees were freed hours after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages — Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher — who were taken to a hospital in central Israel. Their families said they were in stable condition after 471 days in captivity.

The prisoner releases marked the first exchange under a 42-day ceasefire brokered by Qatar, the United States and Egypt. The ceasefire is intended to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza while negotiations continue for a permanent end to the war.

Celebrations in the West Bank

Palestinian detainees left Ofer Prison on buses at around 1 a.m. local time, arriving in Beitunia, where large crowds cheered and waved Hamas flags. Some climbed onto the buses, while others set off fireworks.

“All the prisoners being released today feel like family to us,” said Amanda Abu Sharkh, 23, in Beitunia. “They are part of us, even if they’re not blood relatives.”

According to a list made public by Israeli authorities, more than 230 of the released detainees had been serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis. Two Hamas officials said those prisoners would be deported mainly to Qatar or Turkey.

Displaced Palestinians return home

As the ceasefire took effect Sunday, thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to their homes across the devastated Gaza Strip.

In northern Jabalia hundreds walked along a sandy path toward what was left of their neighborhoods.

“We are finally in our home,” said Rana Mohsen, 43. “There is no home left, just rubble, but it’s our home.”

Walid Abu Jiab, who returned to Jabalia, described “massive, unprecedented destruction” and said, “There’s nothing left.”

Humanitarian aid enters Gaza

The United Nations said the first trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza minutes after the ceasefire began.

“It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The World Health Organization said it was ready to increase aid but needed “systematic access” across the territory. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus later said on social media that “restoring the health system in Gaza will be a complex and challenging task, given the scale of destruction.”

The World Food Program said it was working to reach as many as 1 million people as quickly as possible.

Next swap set for Saturday

Hamas and Israeli officials said another round of hostage-prisoner exchanges is scheduled for Saturday.

The current ceasefire is the second since the war began. A one-week ceasefire in November 2023 also resulted in hostage releases in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the agreement a “temporary ceasefire,” saying Israel had US support to resume fighting if necessary. Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said its compliance with the truce depended on Israel’s actions.

Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. The group took 251 hostages, of whom 91 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

The ceasefire took effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration for a second term as US president. Trump, who claimed credit for the deal, told NBC that he had urged Netanyahu to end the war.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, Israeli military has killed at least 46,707 Palestinians and wounded 110,265 since October 7, 2023. The death toll means that one out of every 50 people has been killed in Gaza. Many analysts and rights groups believe the real number killed is far higher.

A report released by Amnesty International on December 5 concludes that Israel’s actions in Gaza qualify as genocide.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel must also answer to the International Court of Justice for genocide due to its war on Gaza.