Palestinians in Gaza are confronting an apocalyptic landscape of devastation after a ceasefire paused more than 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Across the tiny coastal enclave, where built-up refugee camps are interspersed between cities,

Even before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was fully in place, Palestinians in the war-battered Gaza Strip began to return to the remains of the homes they had evacuated during the 15-month war.

Palestinian prisoners released by Israel after three hostages left Hamas captivity in an exchange said conditions in prison were “very difficult” and “chaotic.”

Palestinians celebrated on the streets of Gaza as guns fell silent. Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” to watch news of the returnees.

An NBC News crew filmed displaced Palestinians walking on foot from Khan Younis to Rafah in southern Gaza. Thousands began moving south hours before the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect.

Under the Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel has agreed to release Palestinians held in Israeli jails in return for freeing hostages taken by the militant group Hamas in their Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

Gazans are curbing their optimism, having experienced other times throughout the war when a cease-fire was thought to be within reach, only for it to fall apart.

Qatar, which mediated the agreement, said the cease-fire deal was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday.