By Miro Mamman and Avi Ohayon TEL AVIV/SDEROT, Israel (Reuters) -Thousands of Israelis gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, some cheering and some in tears, as a giant television screen broadcast the first glimpse of the first three hostages to be released under the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Israeli media, carrying live footage from Qatar-based Al Jazeera, is showing the first images of the first three hostages<a class="excerpt-read-more" href=" More

The three women were in stable condition, Sheba Medical Center said, and authorities released footage of them reuniting with their families, hugging fiercely and sobbing.

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday following an almost three-hour delay after Hamas was late to name the three hostage it plans to release.

Officials say Israel and Hamas appear to be inching closer to a phased ceasefire agreement. But a deal hasn’t been reached yet.

Israeli military officials have recommended establishing a permanent security buffer zone in parts of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli media said on Sunday. Senior officials proposed creating the zone on the elevated areas of Beit Hanoun, which overlooks the illegal Israeli settlement of Sderot, Israel’s Army Radio reported.

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has taken hold, raising hopes for an end to the devastating 15-month Israel-Hamas war and the release of dozens of militant-held hostages.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas initiated in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, ushering in an initial six-week period of calm and raising hopes for the release of dozens of militant-held hostages and an end to the devastating 15-month war.

Egypt

Palestinians returning to parts of the enclave have been picking their way through vast piles of rubble and trying to salvage what they can.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — After 15 months of collective grief and anxiety, three Israeli hostages left Hamas captivity and returned to Israel, and dozens of Palestinian prisoners walked free from Israeli jail, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians torn between celebration and trepidation as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold Sunday.