Following Hamas’ release of (3) Israeli captives, Israel freed (90) Palestinian captives on Monday 20th of January 2025, marking the 1st exchange under the age of a long awaited truce intended to put an end to the over (15) months of fighting in Gaza.

After reconnecting with their families, the (3) women hostages who were freed on Sunday 19th of January were brought to a hospital in central Israel, where a physician reported that their health was stable.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, hours later, busses carrying Palestinian inmates who had been freed by Israel in exchange departed Ofer prison at approximately

{1:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday)}, followed by joyous celebrations in the neighboring town of Beitunia.

Reach On The Agreement

On Sunday morning, hundreds of war weary and homeless Palestinians left the damaged Gaza Strip to go back home as the truce went into force.

“We’ve arrived at our house at last. Back in Jabalia, (43-year-old) Rana Mohsen remarked, “It’s our home, but there is nothing left but debris.”

Mediators from Qatar, the United States, and Egypt mediated the 1st (42) day truce. As additional Israeli captives are freed in return for Palestinians held by Israel, Israeli soldiers withdraw from some regions, and the parties reach an agreement on the conditions of a lasting truce, it is intended to allow a flood of desperately needed humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

After being turned over to the Red Cross by Hamas militants in a busy plaza in Gaza City, encircled by a sea of people, mainly gunmen, the (3) Israeli former hostages (Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher) were returned to Israel by the armed forces.

Emily’s mother, Mandy Damari, declared that her daughter was at last home after (471) days, but that “for plenty of other households a hopeless journey continues.”

“Our heroic (Dodo), who suffered (471) days in Hamas imprisonment, starts her road to healing path today,” Steinbrecher’s family stated in a statement.

The audience, which had been waiting for hours for the announcement of their release, was delighted in central Tel Aviv.

Symbol Of Light

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that they had come “out of darkness,” whereas the Captives and Lost Families Forum campaign organization celebrated their homecoming as “a symbol of light.”

In exchange for some (1,900) Palestinians, (33) Israeli hostages (31) of whom were captured during Hamas’ 7th of October, 2023, attack are expected to be released from Gaza during this 1st ceasefire.

On the other hand, nothing left as per the United Nations (UN) confirmed that the 1st trucks delivering much-needed humanitarian aid had arrived in Palestinian territory just minutes after the truce was declared.

“It is crucial that this ceasefire eliminates the major security and political barriers to providing aid,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who praised the truce.

Although a 2nd phase has not yet been finalized, the truce is meant to set the stage for an ongoing conclusion to the war.

Relocated The Great Majority Of Gazans

It went into action over (3) hours later than planned, and during that time, (19) Palestinians were murdered by Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza rescuers.

Following the battle that relocated the great majority of Gazans, thousands of Palestinians were observed returning home on Sunday, often carrying tents, clothing, and personal things.

Walid Abu Jiab, a resident of Jabalia who returned, claimed he discovered “massive, unimaginable loss” and “nothing left” in the war-torn north of Gaza, which has endured months of constant warfare.

Umm Hasan al-Buzom, a 70-year-old displaced lady in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, saying “she was willing to get my way back home if necessary. However, we are afraid that the (Israeli) control forces may shoot at us, so we cannot go back.”

According to aid workers, northern Gaza was especially severely affected and lacked basic necessities such as (food, shelter, and water).

Furthermore the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that while it was prepared to send help to Gaza, doing so would require planned access throughout the region.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the organization, subsequently stated on X that “given the level of loss, rebuilding the health system in Gaza will be a difficult and complicated task.”