Carrying her small daughter, an Israeli mother stood amid a crowd of people next to the helipad of the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, which on Sunday received the three former hostages released in a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.

After 15 months of war, a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect Sunday morning, paving the way for a dramatic day that saw Hamas free the first of 33 Israeli hostages — three women who had languished in captivity for 471 days.

Thirty-three people were set to be released during the first phase of the agreement, including female soldiers and civilians, children and men over 50.