Aya Botraoui

For the first time in seven months, Palestinians woke up to no Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

And thousands of Palestinians who had been forcibly displaced by Israel's military offensive on Gaza City rushed back to check on their homes when the ceasefire came into effect.

NPR's Anas Baba in Gaza City saw two men embracing after meeting again in their neighborhood.

Ahmed Arouag tells NPR he returned only to find half his home destroyed.

It's unlivable.

And he says there's no real ceasefire, that Israeli forces are still striking areas of Gaza they've pulled back to.

Israeli troops will remain in around half of Gaza until Hamas disarms.

Aya Botraoui, NPR News.