Palestinians in Gaza hailed a ceasefire as thousands began preparing to return home after 15 months of war.

Celebrations erupt in Gaza Strip long awaited ceasefire The bill comes into effect after 15 months of war that reduced much of the Palestinian coastal enclave to rubble.

The ceasefire came into effect at 11:15am local time (09:15GMT) on Sunday after Hamas handed over a list. three female prisoners released to Israel through mediators as part of the deal.

“My joy is immeasurable,” said Gaza resident Om Salah.

“From the moment they announced the ceasefire, I quickly packed everything because I was preparing to travel to Gaza City. My children were very excited to go see our families, our relatives and our land,” she told Al Jazeera.

“Here we are always scared and worried, but back home we are happy and joy comes back to our lives.”

“Everyone is happy, especially the children,” said one Palestinian young man.

“Hopefully the Israelis will not violate the ceasefire in the coming days,” he told Al Jazeera.

He said all he wanted to do now was finish school. “This genocide destroyed a lot of dreams.”

Health workers and aid workers from Gaza were also present at the scene celebrating in the street. Video shared online and confirmed by Al Jazeera showed several civil defense teams chanting the national anthem and raising victory signs.

“There have been no violations since the ceasefire came into effect,” Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reported outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

“No more bombs, no more fighter jets, no more drones. The only gunfire we heard was from the celebrations in the streets – there was a lot of gunfire and fireworks,” he said.

Before the ceasefire agreement takes effect, Israeli troops killed At least 19 Palestinians were injured on Sunday, with dozens more injured, bringing the total Palestinian death toll 15 months of genocide to nearly 47,000 people. Palestinian and human rights groups say the actual death toll is likely much higher.

A Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 killed at least 1,139 people in Israel and captured approximately 250 people.

“Need to go back”

Al Jazeera reporter Mahmoud reported that in the courtyard of the hospital where he was reporting, Palestinian families had begun dismantling their tents and returning to their homes that had been forced to evacuate due to relentless Israeli bombing.

“What we see here is families excitedly collecting their belongings – everything they managed to collect while they were in hospital. Their faces are filled with excitement as they leave the hospital doors,” he added.

Anwar, a displaced Palestinian man living in Khan Younis who did not give his last name, said he hoped to return to Rafah despite reports that his home had been destroyed.

“I would go there and look for a place to pitch a tent and live with my family of eight,” he told Al Jazeera. “I need to go back to my city. I need to go back to where I was born.”

Anwar said the months of war had been a “nightmare”. “It was just a nightmare, it was like we were in a dream and then we stood up again,” Anwar said.

He said he and his family were living in crude tents without enough food and water and that prices for goods were “horrendously high.”