In pictures: Palestinians celebrate as ceasefire begins and aid enters Gaza

IMAGES have shown Palestinians celebrating as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas started on Sunday.

It started after a delay when Israel said fighting would continue until Hamas handed over the names of three hostages it planned to release.

(Image: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) (Image: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) First aid and civil defence workers celebrate the ceasefire (Image: Hamza Z.H. Qraiqea/Anadolu via Getty Images)

A photo taken from a video released by the Egyptian government also showed trucks of aid entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing.

Aid enters the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing (Image: Egyptian Press Centre via AP)

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 has resulted in the deaths of more than 46,000 Palestinians while millions have been left displaced.

(Image: Hamza Z. H. Qraiqea/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Image: Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Image: AP Photo/Mariam Dagga) (Image: AP Photo/Mariam Dagga) (Image: AP Photo/Mariam Dagga)

An Israeli official confirmed that Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28 and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, are to be released later on Sunday.

The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire should see a total of 33 hostages returned from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees released by Israel.