Palestinians in Gaza are confronting an apocalyptic landscape of devastation after a ceasefire paused more than 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Across the tiny coastal enclave, where built-up refugee camps are interspersed between cities,

Even before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was fully in place, Palestinians in the war-battered Gaza Strip began to return to the remains of the homes they had evacuated during the 15-month war.

The ceasefire came into effect Sunday after an initial three-hour delay, during which almost 20 more Palestinians were killed, according to medics in the decimated Palestinian territory. Under the terms of the deal,

Honestly, my feelings are indescribable,” Boshara Amro, 21, told NBC News after her sister Jeneen was released.

More Palestinians are returning to where they lived in the Gaza Strip before they were displaced in the 15-month-long war, after a ceasefire took effect Sunday. Some on Tuesday were shocked to see what little remains of their homes that once stood in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Palestinians celebrated on the streets of Gaza as guns fell silent. Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” to watch news of the returnees.

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.

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.

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.

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

Palestinian prisoners released by Israel after three hostages left Hamas captivity in an exchange said conditions in prison were “very difficult” and “chaotic.” (AP Video by Amer Abdeen and Imad Isseid and production by Jalal Bwaitel)