90 Palestinian prisoners released from Israel

The ceasefire will see Gaza hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israel freed.

Last Updated: January 20, 2025, 4:46 AM EST

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza went into effect on Sunday morning. Hostages held in the strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be freed in the first phase of the deal.

Meanwhile, the November ceasefire in Lebanon is holding despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which Israeli officials say are responses to ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed militant group. Israeli forces also remain active inside the Syrian border region as victorious rebels there build a transitional government.

Tensions remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides. The IDF and the Yemeni Houthis also continue to exchange attacks.

Jan 19, 2025, 6:36 PM EST

90 Palestinian prisoners released

The 90 Palestinian prisoners that were in Israeli custody have been released, an Israeli prison service spokesperson said in a statement early Monday morning local time – about 80 minutes past the conclusion of Day 1 of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.

There was no acknowledgement of the delay in the statement. However, it noted that the prison service was "working to release the prisoners in accordance with the political outline that was agreed upon."

The prisoners were transferred from “several prison facilities” to Ofer Prison in Ramallah in the West Bank.

They were then released from Ofer Prison and the Jerusalem Detention Center, the spokesperson said.

Buses with the prisoners have left the prison, a local source confirmed to ABC News.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman, Anna Burd and Latifeh Abdellatif

Jan 19, 2025, 5:55 PM EST

90 Palestinian prisoners have not yet been released

As the first day of a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas drew to a close, 90 Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be released on Day 1 had not yet been released.

The prisoners are being held in Ofer Prison in Ramallah, West Bank, where it is now in the earliest hours of Day 2.

Although the agreement did begin a few hours later than expected on Sunday, there has been no official update from the Israel Prison Service — which is overseen by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir — justifying the delay in the prisoners’ release.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman and Matt Gutman

Jan 19, 2025, 5:09 PM EST

3 hostages released by Hamas are in 'stable condition'

The three hostages released by Hamas are in "stable condition," Professor Itai Pessach for the Safra Children’s Hospital at Sheba Medical Center, said in a televised statement Sunday evening local time.

"I'm happy to report that they are in stable condition. That allows us and them to focus on what is the most important thing -- reuniting with their families. We will continue to monitor their medical condition. This will take a few more days," Pessach said.

-ABC News' Anna Burd

Jan 19, 2025, 4:13 PM EST

More than 550 humanitarian aid trucks enter Gaza on Sunday: Source

More than 550 humanitarian aid trucks have entered Gaza since a ceasefire began Sunday morning, including 242 to the northern Gaza Strip, a source in the Gaza Interior Ministry told ABC News.

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid arrive in the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing, also known as Karem Abu Salem, Jan. 19, 2025.
Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Samy Zyara

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