As Israel prepares to welcome home the first of 33 hostages freed under a ceasefire with Hamas, health workers warn of the psychological challenges they face after their 15 months in captivity.

Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are also set to be released as part of the agreement that took effect on Sunday.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war, 94 remained in Gaza as the ceasefire began, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

During a 42-day first phase of the ceasefire, Palestinian militants are due to free 33 hostages, starting with three women.

Throughout the war, there has been only one other pause in the fighting -- a week-long truce in November 2023 that also saw the exchange of hostages for prisoners.

Amir Blumenfeld, a former chief of the Trauma branch of the Israeli army, said hostages released during that truce had suffered serious health issues.

"After 50 days of captivity, the hostages suffered from........

© Al Monitor