The release of 24 hostages Friday is important, but it's just the first step in what everyone involved hopes will be an extended ceasefire and release of more hostages.
The dramatic images have people on both sides of the situation breathing a sigh of relief.
"This is a good start. Thirteen people have re-joined their families,” said Matan Zamir, deputy consul general of Israel. “And additionally, 11 foreign nationals."
Military medical helicopters airlifted some of those released to hospitals in and near Tel Aviv.
Zamir said the Israeli government has also already received the list of Saturday's hostages that will be released with a total of 50 over this four day pause.
All sides have agreed that military operations will stop, including drone surveillance flights by the israeli military.
Thirty-nine Palestinian detainees have been released, they are older teens and women who had been charged by Israel with anything from throwing rocks at IDF soldiers, to armed attacks with knives or other weapons.
Local
And finally, the entry of hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks with food, medical supplies, water and cooking fuel.
The deputy consul general says Israel is also pushing for Hamas to allow the Red Cross to examine the other hostages still being held.
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
The San Francisco office has even been getting calls and emails about this.
"Who live here in the Pacific Northwest and ask us, 'Can you also make sure that Hamas agrees to a Red Cross visit?’” said Zamir. “So far, this has not been the case. But this is still a high priority for us."
The release of the first group of hostages also comes as a series of demonstrations. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in San Francisco and in Berkeley.
For weeks, organizers and participants in the often sizable events have been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
People in this group also say Friday's pause in fighting, and release of hostages, is good news.
But it's just a start.
"It's great to hear that people are returning back to their families,” said Sara Ouchene of Bay Youth for Palestine. “But we should focus more on people who are being killed in Palestine."
According to the Hamas-administered Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll of Palestinians there has surpassed 13,000 and thousands more are still missing.
As the San Francisco demonstration made its way from city hall to Union Square, demonstrators called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the hostage release agreement, the current pause can be extended if Hamas continues releasing hostages.