On the first day of a four-day Gaza cease-fire agreement, Hamas released 24 hostages abducted by militants from southern Israel seven weeks ago. In return, Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison on Friday. More hostage-for-prisoner swaps are expected over the weekend, and Israel says it has received a new list of hostages to be freed by Hamas on Saturday. The cease-fire agreement allowed sorely needed aid to flow into Gaza. The territory’s 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet for the first time after relentless Israeli bombardment. The deal also offered a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war.