As Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza to celebrate the ceasefire, moments of joy faded for many as they returned to their homes to be met with destruction.
In Jabalia, the northern Gaza town that is home to the largest refugee camp in the Strip, pictures and videos shared by residents reveal entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.
Returning to the al-Faluj area of Jabalia, Duaa al-Khalidi told BBC News: “I survived with my two daughters who came out from under the rubble of our house.
“Here, under the rubble, the bodies of my husband, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law have remained buried since October 9.”
The 28-year-old mother of two continued: “I want nothing but their bodies so I can give them a dignified burial.”
The Jabalia camp, once home to more than 250,000 Palestinians, became the site of the largest and most violent Israeli military operation of the war, with around 4,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Hussein Awda, who documented his journey back from Gaza City, also returned to Jabali.
A professional weightlifter, who represented Palestine internationally, lost 10 members of his family at the start of the war.
“The best thing that happened today is that after 100 days I was able to visit my family’s grave and pray for them,” he said.
He also published a video that reveals the devastation of his three-story building and the sports club he owns.
“Here I lost the people who were closest to my heart — brothers, sons, a source of livelihood. The war killed everything beautiful in us.”
In the southern city of Khan Younis, armed Hamas fighters drove through the streets as crowds cheered and chanted, according to the Reuters news agency.
Hamas officers, wearing police uniforms, were also deployed in some areas after months of hiding out of sight to avoid Israeli attacks.
Gaza City resident Ahmed Abu Ayham, who took refuge with his family in Khan Younis, told Reuters his hometown was “terrible”.
In the city, which has suffered the greatest destruction according to expertspeople were seen waving the Palestinian flag and filming the scenes with cellphones.
But the 40-year-old said it was no time to celebrate despite the fact that a ceasefire could save lives.
“We are in pain, deep pain, and it is time to hug and cry,” he said.
Gazans were also on the move to the southern town of Rafah near the Egyptian border.
Mohammed Suleiman told BBC Arabic’s Gaza Lifeline: “Thank God, we received the news that the ceasefire has come into force with joy and happiness.
“God willing, things will change for the better and we will return to Rafah. I hope that every displaced person will return to their home safely.”
Many fled the city after Israel ordered their evacuation ahead of the start of an operation in the southern Gaza city.
In Rafah, Muhammad al-Jamal, a journalist for the Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam, reflected on his own loss.
The house was razed to the ground; everything has been turned into ruins,” he said. “The hen house and the fig tree whose fruits we shared together are now a thing of the past.”
The fragility of the ceasefire agreement became apparent in its first hours.
The truce finally came into effect after a three-hour delay, during which 19 Palestinians were reportedly killed in what Israel said were strikes on “terrorist targets”.
By afternoon, three Israeli hostages returned to Israel, as part of the first six-week phase in which 33 hostages will be released.
But people in Gaza still fear that the truce could falter again.
