Some displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza expressed relief on Monday, saying they slept for the first time in over a year without bombing or fear after a ceasefire deal was reached between Israel and Hamas.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Under the Gaza ceasefire deal that came into force on Sunday, Israel has agreed to release Palestinians held in Israeli jails in return for freeing hostages taken by the militant group Hamas in their Oct.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came into effect Sunday, halting more than 15 months of devastating war. Early Monday, the Israeli Prison Service released 90 Palestinians outside Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The release came hours after three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas.

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.

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.

Displaced Palestinians returned to Rafah in southern Gaza as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect. An NBC News crew captured the widespread devastation that awaited them.

More than 46,000 Palestinians were killed over the past 15 months, according to the Associated Press, citing figures from the Gaza Health Ministry. About 1,200 Israelis were killed on Oct. 7, 2023, in Hamas' attack and an additional 840 Israeli soldiers were killed. Arab American activists say the Palestinian death toll is higher than reported.

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

The city of Jenin in the northern West Bank has been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

When a ceasefire was declared on Sunday in Gaza many displaced Palestinians were looking forward to returning home.

Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees early on Monday, hours after three Israeli hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza returned to Israel. Large white buses carrying the detainees exited the gates of Israel’s Ofer prison,