Mark Lowen
Reporting from Sheba Hospital, Tel Aviv

I’m outside the wing of Sheba Hospital - Israel’s largest - where the first released hostages have just spent their first night of freedom.

I’m told their families stayed with them here overnight, where they’ve been given private rooms with living rooms, along with a chef to cater to what they want.

After an initial assessment last night, Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher will undergo comprehensive medical tests today, along with psychological assessments.

As it was put to me: while it may seem that they’re in a stable condition on the outside, it’s what’s happening inside after more than 15 months in captivity which is far less clear.

They’re expected to stay here for a few days.

In the pictures of their release last night, it was clear that Emily Damari had lost two of her fingers, after she was shot by Hamas on the day she was abducted.

Sheba Hospital deals with the majority of Israeli soldiers returning from Lebanon and Gaza, so they have extensive experience of dealing with such injuries and worse - and she’ll be given the necessary orthopaedic care during her stay.

Image source, Reuters

Two buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners had to inch through celebrating crowds in the occupied West Bank in the early hours of this morning - we've now got some footage to bring you of the reunions:

Ceasefire was result of dramatic changes in regionpublished at 07:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January

07:27 GMT 20 January

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent

The ceasefire in Gaza happens amid - and in part was only possible because of - dramatic changes in the Middle East that isolated Hamas and eroded the influence of Iran, the group’s main supporter, in the region.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah, once the main player in what Tehran calls the Axis of Resistance, was significantly weakened after its war with Israel, with its leadership decimated.

In recent days, it has also seen its political power diminish, with the arrival of a president and a prime minister supported by the US and Saudi Arabia and not aligned with the group.

Hezbollah’s setbacks were a key factor that helped Turkish-backed Islamist rebels topple Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive here in Syria last month. This put an end to a five-decade dictatorship that was backed by Iran and gave it a land corridor to arm Hezbollah next door.

The Houthis, an Iranian proxy, have been repeatedly targeted by Israel and a US-led coalition in Yemen.

Image source, Reuters

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has released a statement, after successfully carrying out the ceasefire's first exchange of three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners.

"The operation was complex, requiring rigorous security measures," says ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric.

"Navigating large crowds and heightened emotions posed challenges during the transfers, and in Gaza, ICRC teams had to manage the dangers posed by unexploded ordnances and destroyed infrastructure."

She says the operation was a "powerful example" of the Red Cross's role as "a neutral actor", and their teams are ready to help with the next exchange. The next release will be in the next week and see four Israeli women released for more prisoners, the US and Israel says.

We just heard from Mahmoud Rostom, a third-year student in Gaza who became a citizen journalist during the war, who says he was able to sleep soundly yesterday, for the first time since the war started.

"During the war I couldn't sleep as I wanted to, as the bombs were everywhere and anywhere and every time," he tells the BBC's Newsday programme this morning.

"But this time yesterday I slept early because of the feeling of being safe, the best time since 470 days and I woke up early.

"I was shocked because the day I woke up I saw children in my neighbour playing football, the first time. I can see the people who are selling some local desserts as before the war. It was like I was born again."

Image source, Getty Images

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

Image source, Reuters

Hundreds of Palestinians cheered, thronging two Red Cross buses as they arrived in Beitunia in the occupied West Bank on Monday. Many of the women and teenaged boys released by Israel had been recently detained and not tried or convicted.

Across Gaza, where the fighting has killed tens of thousands and forced most people from their homes, the first day of the ceasefire brought relief and sorrow. With Israeli forces already pulling back from some areas, many families set off for home, finding widespread destruction and bodies in the streets.

The deal brokered by the US and regional mediators has raised hopes of an end to the devastating war and the return of the nearly 100 remaining hostages held by Hamas.

But there is still great uncertainty – with major questions remaining about whether the fighting will resume after the initial six-week stage, and what the future holds for Gaza.

Good morning to our readers in the UK who are just starting their day. Here's a recap of our continuing coverage of the ceasefire in Gaza:

• Israel says 90 Palestinian prisoners have been released as of Monday morning, as the three Israeli hostages freed by Hamas are reunited with their families
• Four more Israeli hostages are expected to be released this week, and three hostages will be released every seven days thereafter, according to outgoing US President Joe Biden
• Meanwhile, Hamas says that for every Israeli hostage released, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli jails. Egypt - one of the mediators - said this weekend that 1,890 prisoners would be released during the first phase
• Most of the prisoners released on Monday are women and under-18s. They include Khalida Jarrar, a prominent Palestinian politician and leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
• Palestinians have started returning to their homes in Gaza, where they are confronted with the reality of their houses being reduced to rubble

Mark Lowen
Reporting from Tel Aviv

Image source, Reuters

The images of Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher – the first released hostages – overwhelmed by tears and joy as they were reunited with their families have given Israelis a glimpse of what they’ve been craving: relief, more than 15 months after the worst attack in their history.

The hospital in Tel Aviv where they’re staying says they will remain for several days for evaluation. It will certainly include psychological and trauma counselling, as well as medical tests.

But the other images of their release – surrounded by Hamas fighters as they were driven through Gaza – also stand out.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, vowed the “total annihilation” of Hamas. Yet even though it’s been severely weakened, Hamas is still standing.

That could have domestic political consequences for Netanyahu – and illustrates that the group wants a stake in the future of Gaza.

Image source, EPA

With a ceasefire now in place, thousands of displaced Palestinians are heading back home today - returning to find their houses flattened.

For Rana Mohsen, 43, who fled Gaza City to seek refuge in Jabalia, it has been a long time coming.

"We've been waiting for this moment for 16 months," the mother-of-three tells AFP news agency,

"My joy is indescribable. We are finally in our home. There is no home left, just rubble, but it's our home."

The roof of her home is all that remains and the extent of the destruction is "unimaginable", she says, adding that "buildings and landmarks have completely disappeared, as if it were a ghost town or abandoned cities".

Similar scenes greeted Ahmad al-Balawi, who’s just returned to Rafah.

"As soon as I returned to the city, I felt a shock", he told AFP.

"Decomposing bodies, rubble, and destruction everywhere. Entire areas have been completely wiped out."

Yesterday, in anticipation of today's ceasefire, Gaza's health ministry urged Palestinians returning home to stay away from bodies and to call the authorities to remove them.

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent

It is a smile that says she is free. Emily Damari hugs her mother, both of them radiating joy while on a video call with her brother. The family at last reunited after the darkness of her captivity in Gaza.

The British-Israeli national was shot in the hand and dragged from her home in southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

She was also injured by shrapnel and saw her dog Choocha shot and killed.

On Sunday, 471 days later, 28-year-old Emily was among the first three hostages to be released as part of the long-awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Her mother Mandy, who has spent that time campaigning for her release, has now achieved her aim of being able to hug her daughter once again.

"After 471 days Emily is finally home," Mrs Damari wrote in a statement.

"I want to thank everyone who never stopped fighting for Emily throughout this horrendous ordeal, and who never stopped saying her name... Thank you for bringing Emily home."

• Here's more from the Damari family.

We've been reporting that three Israeli women have been freed on the first day the ceasefire deal came into effect.

A total of 33 people taken hostage since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023 are expected to be released in the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel.

According to Israel, 91 hostages are still unaccounted for, although only 57 are believed to be alive.

In addition, Hamas is still holding two men seized after crossing into Gaza from Israel before the war.

Read more on the hostages who are still being held by Hamas.

Earlier on Sunday evening, US President Joe Biden confirmed that four more Israeli women hostages will be released in the next week, echoing what the Israel Defense Forces had said earlier.

"And three hostages every seven days thereafter including at least two Americans in this first phase," Biden said in a post on X, external. "We pray for their long recovery ahead."

The US, alongside Qatar and Egypt, had sought to mediate this ceasefire for months.

Earlier in the day, Biden reflected on the hostage and ceasefire deal in one of his last speeches as president of the US, saying that the Middle East has been "fundamentally transformed".

Image source, AFP

The BBC had earlier spoke to Diash Dara, who yesterday was waiting for her sister Hadil to be released.

Her sister, she says, is a 32-year-old university administrative worker who was detained without charge for seven months.

Diash says she is feeling "happy" about her sister's release, but also "confused a little bit because of what happened in Gaza".

"The most important thing is that they stopped the war in Gaza. Even if she wasn't released today, we [would] be ok with it. But at least the war has been ended."

You can read more about the mood in the West Bank as the ceasefire takes effect here.

Image source, Getty Images

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has thanked Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani for his "critical role" in mediation efforts that culminated in the ceasefire, the US Department of State said.

"The secretary highlighted the need to continue advancing post-conflict planning for Gaza, expressed his gratitude for the prime minister’s support and wished him well on continued efforts to build lasting peace in the region," the department said in a statement, external.

Image source, Getty Images

If you're just joining us now, here's a quick look at what's happened over the past few hours:

• Ninety Palestinian prisoners have been released early on Monday, hours after three Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas in Gaza city
• Hamas says that for every Israeli hostage released, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli jails
• Most of the prisoners released on Monday are women and children. Prominent Palestinian politician Khalida Jarrar - a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - is among them
• More than 630 aid trucks have entered Gaza on Sunday, the UN says
• While celebrating the much-awaited ceasefire deal, the WHO chief has warned that addressing the "massive health needs" of those in Gaza will be a "complex and challenging task"

Stay with us as we bring you the latest.

Earlier we reported that Palestinian politician Khalida Jarrar is believed to be among those freed. We're now seeing images of her being greeted by family and well-wishers as she arrives in Ramallah early on Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA

One of the first Palestinian prisoners to be released told AFP news agency her journey towards freedom began at 03:00 on Sunday, where she was taken from her prison and moved to another closer to the Israel-Gaza barrier.

Bushra al-Tawil, a Palestinian journalist who was taken prisoner in March 2024, said she first learned she would be freed from other inmates who had attended a hearing.

"The lawyers told them the (ceasefire) deal had been announced and was in the implementation phase," she said.

"The wait was extremely hard. But thank God, we were certain that at any moment we would be released."

She remains worried about her father, who is still a prisoner in an Israeli jail, though she says she has received news that he would be released subsequently as part of the ceasefire deal.

As we mentioned earlier - the ceasefire deal is one that comes in three stages. The first six-week phase of the deal sees 33 hostages - including women, children and elderly people - exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Israeli forces will also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid lorries will be allowed into the territory each day.

Negotiations for the second phase - which should see the remaining hostages released, a full Israeli troop withdrawal and a return to "sustainable calm" - are then due to start on the 16th day.

The third and final stage involves the return of any remaining hostages' bodies and the reconstruction of Gaza - something which could take years.

But unanswered questions remain - including which hostages are alive or dead, or whether Hamas knows the whereabouts of all those who remain unaccounted for.

• More: What we know about the Gaza ceasefire deal

More pictures are rolling in after the Palestinian prisoners' release.

Here are some of the latest images we've seen showing the moments that the Palestinians were reunited with their families:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

While celebrating the much-awaited ceasefire deal, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the journey ahead will be challenging for those in Gaza.

The start of the hostage and prisoner release process "brings great hope for millions of people whose lives have been ravaged by the conflict", says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"It is a moment I have been calling and hoping for," he says.

However, he adds that "addressing the massive health needs and restoring the health system in Gaza will be a complex and challenging task, given the scale of destruction, operational complexity and constraints involved".