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Photos: Families reunite as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire takes effect

NPR | By Majd Al-Waheidi,

Virginia Lozano

Published January 19, 2025 at 9:53 PM EST

A freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted after their release from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 20, 2025.

After 15 months of war, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday morning.

The long-awaited truce sparked brief celebrations in Gaza, saw the release of three Israeli women from captivity, and freed approximately 90 Palestinians. As Israeli forces withdrew from areas in Gaza's Rafah to the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border, many Palestinians returned to find the homes they were forced to flee reduced to rubble.

The three-phase agreement is intended to secure a permanent end to the war, but significant details of the second and third phases remain unclear. Here are some visuals capturing scenes from Gaza and Israel:

Copyright 2025 NPR

Palestinian men waving Hamas and Hezbollah flags sit on top of a Red Cross bus carrying released prisoners from Ofer military prison in the occupied West Bank are met by a crowd of family members and friends in Beitunia, outside Ramallah, in the early hours of Jan. 20, 2025.

Freed Palestinian prisoners ride in a bus after their release from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, outside the Israeli military prison, Ofer, near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jan. 20, 2025.

Friends of Emily Damari, hold a sign with her image that reads 'Our Emily, Welcome home, Our hero' on Jan. 19, 2025.

An Israeli military helicopter with Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, inside on Jan. 19, 2025.

People celebrate as Freed Israeli hostages arrive in Ramat Gan after their release from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip on Jan. 19, 2025.

Supporters and relatives of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian militants, react while watching a live television broadcast on the release of Israeli hostages, at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, on Jan. 19, 2025.

Al-Qassam Brigades hand over 3 female Israeli hostages to Red Cross at al-Saraya as part of 1st phase of ceasefire and prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza on Jan. 19, 2025.

A Palestinian family holds up flags and celebrates their return to Rafah, Gaza Strip, on January 19, 2025.

An aid truck enters Palestinian territories from Rafah Border Crossing on Jan. 19, 2025.

Family members and relatives of Palestinian prisoners, wait for their release, while standing on a hill above the Ofer Prison, in the west of Ramallah on January 19, 2025.

Palestinians carry a wounded man through the streets of Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Jan. 19, 2025.

Smoke rises after an explosion in northern Gaza, before a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas goes into effect, as seen from Israel, Jan. 19, 2025.

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Majd Al-Waheidi

Majd Al-Waheidi is a digital editor for Morning Edition and Up First.

Virginia Lozano

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