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.

The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m. local time, is just the first step toward ultimately ending the conflict and returning nearly 100 hostages abducted in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

The first stage of a truce between Israel and Hamas prompted celebrations in Gaza and hope for an end to the 15-month war. Three Israeli hostages were expected to be freed on Sunday, along with dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has taken effect following an almost three-hour delay after Hamas was late to name the three hostage it plans to release. The announcement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the ceasefire began at 11:15 a.

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JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli warplanes and artillery attacked the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday and Palestinian medics said eight people were killed shortly after Israel and Hamas missed a deadline for a ceasefire that could pave the way for halting the Middle East's most devastating conflict in years.

A long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza began after a three-hour delay as Hamas named the three female hostages it plans to free later on Sunday. Israel had vowed to keep fighting until it received the names,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas. He reiterated the warning in a statement barely an hour before the ceasefire was set to begin at 8:30 a.