The Israel-Hamas war has devastated the Gaza Strip. Satellite photos offer some sense of the destruction in the territory.

As the Gaza ceasefire takes hold, aid workers caution that the toughest challenges are yet to come, describing the truce as only the first step on a long road to recovery.

Israel has freed 90 Palestinian detainees in exchange for three Israeli hostages as the first stage of its ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Displaced Palestinians leave parts of Khan Younis as they go back to their homes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) A Red Cross convoy arrives to collect Israeli hostages released after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect,

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza went into effect on Sunday morning. Hostages held in the strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be freed in the first phase of the deal.

Israel says the Gaza ceasefire will begin at 11:15 a.m. local time. The announcement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office came after Hamas named the three female hostages it plans to release on Sunday.

The first three hostages released from Gaza have arrived in Israel, the military announced Sunday, hours after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold. Their mothers were waiting to meet them.

The first three Israeli hostages were released after the ceasefire officially began. Hours later, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

There is no detailed plan in place to govern Gaza after the war, much less rebuild it. Any return of Hamas will test the patience of Israel, which has said it will resume fighting unless the group is dismantled.

The skies over Gaza fell silent for the first time in 14 months, bringing both relief and a sharper understanding of all that has been lost.