Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are eager to leave miserable tent camps and return to their homes if a long-awaited ceasefire agreement halts the Israel-Hamas war.

An Israeli airstrike on Gaza's Deir al-Balah killed at least 10 Palestinians and wounded others, medics told Reuters on Tuesday.

Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip expressed their hope and joy over news of a potential ceasefire deal after mediators said Israel and Hamas were at the closest point yet to sealing an agreement.

A large number of Palestinians in Gaza stepped out of their houses to celebrate Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that was agreed on Wednesday, bringing pause to 15-month-old conflict

Three Israeli hostages released from Gaza have been handed over to Israeli forces there in the first test of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

A handful of vehicles carrying dozens of armed militants joined people celebrating the ceasefire outside the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza’s central city of Deir al-Balah on Sunday.

Palestinian medics say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least five people in the Gaza Strip, including two infants and a woman.

Doctor Khaled al-Saidani checks a patient at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah city, central Gaza Strip, on Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Doctor Khaled al-Saidani is seen at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah city, central Gaza Strip, on Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Rarely seen in the open while the war raged, masked and armed fighters spread out publicly through Gaza’s cities in a show of force on Sunday.

Three hostages were handed over to Israeli forces — the first of 33 expected to be freed over the next six weeks in exchange for some 1,900 Palestinians. The deal follows months of negotiations.

Thousands celebrate as ceasefire between Israel and Hamas begins, bringing hope to Gaza after 15 months of conflict.