For Sofie Tepperman, Monday felt like more of a “somber celebration.”

The University of Pittsburgh junior, who has family in Israel, watched with the rest of the world as a ceasefire deal led to the release of 20 living Israeli hostages along with 1,900 Palestinian prisoners Monday, a major step in the possible end to the two-year-plus war that has ravaged the Middle East.

“I was very happy, but also very upset because this should have happened so long ago,” said Ms. Tepperman, who said her family had connected with friends and family of hostages over the past two years.

Imam Amro Elaswalli of the Muslim Association of Greater Pittsburgh said it is now the job of “every human being on the planet” to help rebuild Gaza. He celebrated the progress made on Monday, but still expressed conce

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