Thousands of displaced Gazans return to their homes as ceasefire begins
Thousands of displaced Gazans carrying tents, clothes and personal belongings began heading to their homes Sunday after a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect after more than 15 months of war.
- World
- Published Date: 01:48 | 19 January 2025
- Modified Date: 01:53 | 19 January 2025
AFP journalists saw Palestinians travelling by truck, donkey cart and on foot back to their homes through devastated swathes of Gaza, particularly in the northern parts of the Palestinian territory.
The ceasefire agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours' delay due to Israeli accusations for Hamas of delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. It was originally scheduled to start on 8.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT).
Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel's genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.