The ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and prisoners for the first time brings Palestinians and Israelis some joy and hope.

For the first time in 471 days, Palestinian medics in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip did not report a single death as a result of Israeli military operations on Monday, amid heightened tension. Ceasefire between Hamas and Israel He settled into place. CBS News teams in Israel, Gaza and the occupied West Bank saw more joy — or at least relief — than had been painted on residents’ faces for 15 months.

The ceasefire went into effect on Sunday after an initial three-hour delay, during which about 20 more Palestinians were killed, according to medics in the devastated Palestinian territories.

Under the terms of the deal, which the United States helped broker with Qatar and Egypt, Three Israeli hostages Hamas released them on Sunday after the fighting stopped. Shortly after midnight local time, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released from an Israeli prison in the occupied West Bank.

After more than a year of devastating war sparked by Hamas’ brutal terror attack on October 7, 2023, which saw militants kill some 1,200 people and kidnap 251 others, Gazans heard the sound of children playing on Monday instead of the thunder of fighters. Philippe Lazzarini, Director of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Affairs, UNRWA, said in: statement Posted on social media.

“Our teams reported a good first day of the ceasefire,” he said, adding that aid and some commercial supplies began flowing smoothly into Gaza on Sunday. Besides the mutual release of hostages and prisoners, this is the other main element of the ceasefire agreement. At least 600 aid trucks are supposed to enter Gaza daily, carrying everything from much-needed food and medicine to generator fuel.

“The ceasefire must continue and all elements of the agreement must be implemented,” Lazzarini said. “It is a step in the right direction towards lasting peace and stability for all.”

Palestinians yearn to return to their destroyed homes in Gaza

Reconstructing Gaza will be an incredibly long and expensive process, and is only expected to begin in earnest during the third and final phase of the reconstruction process. A three-stage ceasefire agreementwhich, assuming the deal remains intact, could be several months away. However, the Hamas-run Gaza City municipality said statement At least on Monday, it began clearing the main roads that were closed during the war.

This will help tens of thousands of displaced civilians return to their cities and villages across the enclave, to assess the damage to their homes, and to try to benefit from everything they can salvage from under the rubble.

Thousands of families began walking or pulling vehicles from displacement camps in Gaza City towards the destroyed towns and cities of Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

They also returned to the southern city of Rafah, where a CBS News team spoke with a girl wearing a dress in the shape of the Palestinian flag.

“This is the moment that all the citizens of Gaza have been waiting for,” she said. “Thank God the war is over… It is time to celebrate after enduring the pain. It is time to rebuild after all the destruction. The children of Gaza are drawing a new future.”

Civil Defense rescue teams continued to recover the decomposing bodies of dozens of people killed during the war, whether from under the rubble of destroyed buildings or from the streets. Civil Defense estimated that about 10,000 bodies are still buried under the rubble of demolished homes in Gaza.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said on Monday that hospitals across the Strip had received the bodies of 122 people recovered since the ceasefire came into effect alone, including 62 pulled from under the rubble, raising the total number of deaths in Gaza since the war began. To 47,035. The ministry does not differentiate between combatant and civilian victims, but says that the vast majority of those killed were civilians, including tens of thousands of women and children.

A joyful reunion for three Israeli families, and hope for dozens more

The Red Cross convoy that entered Gaza City on Sunday was the first sign that Hamas was keeping its part of the deal. But the hostage delivery was chaotic. Heavily armed Hamas fighters surrounded the vehicles and climbed on top of them, a clear show of strength and resilience after more than a year of war against the vastly superior Israeli army.

But soon the world and desperate families back home got their first glimpse of the three women’s release as they dashed between cars, to freedom.

After being held hostage by Hamas for 15 months, 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, and 28-year-old Emily Damari were finally on their way back into the passionate arms of their loved ones. The three women — including Damari, a British-Israeli citizen who lost two fingers during the October 7 attack when she was kidnapped — were reunited with their mothers once they arrived in Israel.

“Yesterday, I was finally able to give Emily the hug I’ve been dreaming of,” Damari’s mother, Mandy, said in a statement released Monday. “I’m happy to report that after her release, Emily is much better than any of us expected… In Emily’s own words, she is the happiest girl in the world; she has her life back.”

Even in her moment of extreme joy, Mandy Damari confirmed that other families were still waiting to share in the joy.

“We must also remember that 94 other hostages are still there,” she added. “The ceasefire must continue and all hostages must be returned to their families.”

Hundreds of Israelis watching the events from Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square joined in the rejoicing on Sunday night – including some whose loved ones either could not escape from Hamas captivity – or have yet to emerge.

Carmel Gatt, Jill Dickman’s cousin, was among those kidnapped. It was her body It was found during an Israeli military operation At the beginning of September. However, Diekmann regularly attended demonstrations in the hostage square demanding the return of dozens more. He told CBS News that when he saw the women getting out of cars on Sunday, he had a hard time believing it.

“Oh my God, it’s them,” he said to himself. “All people around the world should feel this joy – of people returning home alive. This is still the happiest thing you can ever be.”

Celebrations in the West Bank for the release of Palestinian prisoners

An atmosphere of joy and celebration prevailed in the occupied West Bank late Sunday night as well, as 90 Palestinian detainees, most of them women, were released in exchange for the release of the released hostages.

“They treated us like animals,” 18-year-old Rose Case said.

“I have left hell and now I am in heaven,” Abdul Aziz Atawneh said upon leaving the Israeli Ofer prison, located outside the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The released detainees were greeted with fireworks, whistles and chants of “Allahu Akbar”, and many were lifted onto the shoulders of the massive crowds that had gathered outside the prison – many of whom had been waiting all day for their release.

According to the list provided by the Palestinian Authority, which administers the West Bank, all those released in the early hours of Monday were women or teenagers, the youngest of whom was just 15 years old. They have been imprisoned by Israel, many without formal charges. On alleged charges ranging from stone-throwing to attempted murder.

The next exchange of hostages for prisoners is scheduled to take place on Saturday under the ceasefire agreement, where four hostages will be released in exchange for about 120 Palestinian prisoners. In total, 33 Israeli hostages will be released during the six-week first phase of the agreement.

Steve Perryman and

Khaled Wassef

She contributed to this report.