ISRAELI authorities have confirmed that Hamas handed over the first three female captives as a ceasefire deal for the war-ravaged Gaza Strip took effect.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Sunday evening that 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 28-year-old Emily Damari, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher were handed over to the Red Cross and are “in safe hands” in Israel.
The Red Cross vehicles took off from Gaza City in the heavily besieged northern part of the enclave after Hamas brought the captives to as-Saraya Square as a crowd gathered.
A Red Cross delegation was verifying the identities of 90 Palestinian prisoners ahead of their release from Israel’s Ofer Prison as part of the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire deal is set to roll out in three phases and includes sending in many more humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza to alleviate the disaster in the enclave. The first stage will last 42 days as Israeli forces pull out of parts of Gaza.
Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida said in a televised speech that the Palestinian group is committed to the agreement, but continued implementation will depend on Israel’s reciprocity.
A deal could have been achieved over a year ago and was blocked by the “malicious ambitions” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obeida said.
The Israeli leader has insisted he will continue fighting as some far-right legislators in his government, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned in protest. Netanyahu emphasised after the first captives were released that Israel will achieve all the goals it has set in the war, which include “defeating” Hamas and releasing all captives.
The United Nations and world leaders also welcomed the ceasefire, with outgoing United States President Joe Biden saying “guns in Gaza have gone silent”.
Thousands of Palestinians celebrated the long-anticipated ceasefire that could improve conditions in Gaza, after more than 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks that have killed at least 46,913 Palestinians and left thousands missing.
Reporting from as-Saraya Square, Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili described scenes of joy among the crowd.
“They are beyond happy,” he said. “Celebrations are taking place all over the place after 15 months of war that destroyed everything. This is a historic moment.”
