Hamas militants have brazenly emerged from their hideouts to celebrate a new ceasefire with Israel, brazenly parading through the streets of Gaza brandishing AK-47s and waving the group's green flags.
Striking images show masked fighters in camouflage and balaclavas, some standing on vehicles, others marching defiantly through towns reduced to rubble after months of fierce fighting.
The ceasefire, which came into effect at 11:15 a.m. local time, brings a temporary pause after 15 months of bloodshed.
But the scenes of Hamas militants openly celebrating have sparked international outrage and renewed fears that the terror group has managed to maintain its strength despite Israel's efforts to dismantle it.
The sight of Hamas militants openly celebrating the ceasefire has drawn condemnation from many quarters, with critics calling it a mockery of the lives lost and continued suffering of hostages and their families.
“These images are a slap in the face to everyone who has suffered the brutality of Hamas,” said one observer.
“It shows that they show no remorse and are ready to fight again.”
Chilling footage of the scenes also showed militants and crowds in Gaza chanting: “Mohammed's army is coming for the Jews” during the parade.
Members of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, take part in a parade celebrating a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel
The fighters waved their guns in the air on Sunday as they made their way through a street in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip.
An armed hunter waves his gun and points his finger at the sky
A man fixes a Palestinian flag on top of the antenna of a destroyed building that was a clinic for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in the northern Gaza Strip
A wider shot shows the destruction surrounding the antenna, with buildings reduced to collapsing shells
As Gazans take tentative steps back to normality, reports have emerged that Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of infamous Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, is working to rebuild the armed infrastructure of the Gaza Strip. group.
Intelligence sources warn the group remains dangerous and has likely used the chaos of the war to regroup.
Meanwhile, attention is being drawn to the hostages Hamas took during the first attack on October 7 that sparked the conflict.
In the attack, described as one of the bloodiest in Israel's history, Hamas terrorists massacred 1,200 civilians, including women and children, and took more than 200 hostages.
One of the first hostages expected to be released is British Emily Damari, 28 years old.
Emily's family remains in a painful situation, with no confirmation whether she is alive or dead, even as her release is expected.
Adam Rose, the family's attorney, expressed the anguish they have endured.
'Every minute is a new layer of torture. Emily's name appeared on the release list this morning, but whether she is alive or dead remains a haunting question,” he told The Sun.
Initial reports indicate that freed hostages will be taken to medical facilities at designated points along the Gaza border before being reunited with their families.
The ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, outlines a complex roadmap for de-escalation.
In the first phase, Hamas will release hostage women and children in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, many of whom have not yet been convicted or tried.
This process began after hours of tense negotiations, with delays due to Hamas's failure to deliver its list of hostages on time.
Ultimately, the exchange was approved to proceed.
Palestinians celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel in Deir Al Balah, Gaza, on January 19
Palestinians gather as Hamas militants prepare to hand over hostages kidnapped during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel to the Red Cross
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, hand over three female Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in al-Saraya as part of the first phase of the ceasefire
A man throws a child into the air as displaced Palestinians celebrate in a tent camp following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip
A Palestinian man holds a Hamas flag near the Israeli military prison of Ofer, on the day Israel releases Palestinian prisoners as part of a hostage swap
The parade took place early on Sunday as the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into effect
A fighter wearing a face-covering mask sits on top of a car while a fellow Hamas member stands behind it with a gun pointed upward
On January 19, a child was photographed celebrating with the fighters
Palestinian Hamas militants took part in the parade following a long-awaited ceasefire with Israel
Dozens of hostages are expected to be returned over the next six weeks, with four to be released on the seventh day of the ceasefire, with more releases taking place every week.
In return, Israel has agreed to allow more humanitarian aid to Gaza, including 600 truckloads of supplies daily, 50 of which carry crucial fuel to address the humanitarian crisis.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has emphasized that its military objectives remain unchanged.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that dismantling Hamas and securing the return of all hostages remain top priorities.
“This war could have ended a long time ago if Hamas had laid down its arms and released our hostages,” Sa'ar said at a news conference.
“This is a temporary ceasefire, not a conclusion. If Hamas remains in power, regional instability will continue, and we will take action to prevent that.”
Sa'ar also criticized Hamas's role in perpetuating the crisis, saying the group had “brought destruction to Gaza and suffering to its people” while exploiting their plight for political and military gain.
The ceasefire comes as Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and the release of hostages, mediators announced on Wednesday
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades gather in al-Saraya before the prisoner exchange
The territory has been devastated by Israeli airstrikes on Hamas strongholds, with Hamas claiming more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
Under the ceasefire, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to northern Gaza as Israeli forces withdraw from key population centers.
However, aid agencies warn that the situation is still dire as food, water and medical supplies are critically low.
The ceasefire includes three major phases, starting with the current cessation of hostilities and the first release of hostages.
In the second phase, the remaining hostages, including male soldiers, will be released in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners.
The final phase, which will begin after the complete cessation of hostilities, will focus on reconciliation and reconstruction.
This includes efforts to locate and return the bodies of hostages who did not survive their captivity, as well as a long-term reconstruction plan for Gaza, overseen by international authorities.
As the ceasefire takes hold, attention will turn to whether this fragile truce can pave the way for lasting peace – or whether it is merely a pause before the next chapter of violence.
