Hundreds of aid trucks were beginning to enter Gaza, which was devastated by Israeli airstrikes and shelling in the 15 months after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

Smotrich said he has received assurances that Israel will resume the war after the first phase, during which 33 hostages held in Gaza are to return home and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be freed. The second phase, which must still be negotiated, is to work out an end to the war and return of all remaining hostages.

Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were freed from Gaza. Thirty more hostages are set to be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinian prisoners released as part of the exchange expressed mixed emotions, celebrating freedom while mourning the ongoing devastation in Gaza.

The three released Israeli hostages were reunited with their mothers after more than 15 months at the reception point in Re'im, southern Israel, on Sunday evening.