President Biden said Sunday the “guns in Gaza have gone silent” as three Israeli hostages were released to mark the start of the cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

He reiterated that this deal mirrors the deal he put forth in May and said that as he spoke hundreds of trucks entered Gaza with assistance for civilians.

“After so much pain, destruction, loss of life, today the guns in Gaza have gone silent,” Mr. Biden said during a church visit in South Carolina.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed three women were released — Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31. They were transferred to the Red Cross by Hamas Sunday.

“Three Israeli women, held against their will in the dark tunnels for 470 days,” Mr. Biden said of those released.

He noted that four other women will be released in a week’s time, and then three more hostages every seven days after that. At least two of the hostages released will include American citizens.

This is the first phase of the cease-fire deal made by the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration. It will include a six-week pause of fighting and the release of 33 hostages.

“Today’s cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages is a result of a principled and effective policy that we presided over for months,” Mr. Biden said. “And we got here without a wider war in the Middle East that many predicted. And now it falls to the next administration to help implement this deal.”

The cease-fire deal was announced Wednesday, when Mr. Biden noted that he and the Trump team had worked as one to implement the truce.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.