3 hostages arrive in Israel amid ceasefire

MIDDLE EAST

Truce ushers in 6 weeks of calm, hope for more releases and end to war

Romi Gonen, 24, right, and her mother, Merav, hold each other near kibbutz Reim, southern Israel, on Sunday. Romi Gonen was one of three hostages released from captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza on Sunday. Israeli Army via the associated press

A Red Cross convoy arrives in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on Sunday to collect Israeli hostages released after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect. Abed Hajjar the associated press

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By Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy and Melanie Lidman

The Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The first three hostages released from Gaza arrived in Israel on Sunday for tearful reunions with families, hours after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold following 15 months of war. Palestinians waited for the first release of prisoners held by Israel.

Footage showed 28-year-old Emily Damari, 24-year-old Romi Gonen and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher in a tense handover to the Red Cross on a Gaza City street. They were surrounded by a crowd of thousands, accompanied